Perfumed Secrets | Kurt Cobain

Once you told me, look for the North Star and you'll see

What had started as a temporary escape, a few months in a foreign country, now had stretched into something far more grounded—a year of adventure, changes, and discovery. Faye marveled at how far she had come. The early days, when she had been unsure of herself, uncertain of this new life, they seemed so distant now. The fear of the unknown had long since departed, replaced by a sense of possibility she hadn't felt in a long time.

Eduardo had become a fixture in her life. What began as casual outings and an easy connection soon morphed into something steadier, an actual relationship. They had found a rhythm between them, a balance of independence and closeness. He became a solid presence, someone she could lean on, trust, and share the moments of her life with.

He was now pursuing his doctorate degree, and had been accepted into a prestigious mentorship program at São Paulo University, working with one of the most respected professors in his field. The decision to spend a significant amount of time in São Paulo had come naturally. The energy of the big city was undeniable—vibrant, dynamic, filled with opportunities and possibilities. Eduardo's academic world was evolving, and Faye couldn't help but admire his drive. It made her think about her own path, how much she'd transformed in the months since arriving in Brazil.

But despite the allure of a big metropolis, they couldn't resist Rio's easy-going charm. Every other weekend, they would hop on a flight by Friday afternoon, taking a break from the intensity to return to the beaches, the cafes, and the lush landscapes that had first welcomed her into this new life. It felt like the perfect antidote to the bustling routine. They lived in both cities now—one by the pace of ambition and the other by the pulse of leisure.

Faye had grown into her own in ways she hadn't anticipated. Her once tentative interest in photography had blossomed into a full-blown passion. She had taken a few workshops, and now, a year later, she was fully immersed in the scene. Working as an assistant in a local darkroom, she had learned the art of developing film, mastering the delicate dance of light, shadow, and texture. Every day felt like a small revelation, like she was unlocking a new door to her creativity. The country had provided her with endless inspiration, from the gritty streets of São Paulo to the tropical vibrancy of Rio's neighborhoods. It was an entirely different side of the country that she hadn't fully experienced before, one that was captured in the people's faces, the textures of the buildings, the way the sunlight hit the pavement. 

Her camera was never far from her side, and the more she explored, the more she realized how much she loved capturing the moments in time others might miss—the fleeting interactions, the subtle beauty in everyday life, the emotions that people so often kept hidden, herself included. Her work in the darkroom had begun to pay off. She wasn't only an assistant anymore, but had started to develop her own portfolio, working on personal projects that she hoped would one day lead to an exhibition. 

There were days when she felt like she had finally found her place—both professionally and in her personal life. It had not just been an escape; it had been a rebirth, a chance to redefine who she was. Despite the closeness they had developed, she knew that there were parts of herself she had never fully shared with Eduardo. She wasn't trying to hide things from him—but there were aspects of her past that she couldn't bring herself to face, let alone explain them to someone who was still, in many ways, a new chapter in her life.

Faye had never told him the full extent of who Kurt was, at least not in the way it mattered. She had spoken of him, sure. She'd shared that he had been her first love, the one who had introduced her to a world of music and intensity, the kind of passion that consumes every part of you. But she hadn't told him who he really was, about the world he had built around himself, a world that had stretched far beyond anything she had ever imagined. She hadn't told him about the millions of people who now knew his name, or how it felt to love someone who had become an icon.