“Melissa, wait!” I call out. Her pink suitcase swivels as she turns around to face me. “I don’t want you to go to New Jersey with Adam. I want you to stay here, with me.” She takes a deep breath. A crowd of people start gathering at my right, the faint blue glow of “Gate 44” hovering above their heads.

“Oh, Andy…Why are you only telling me this now?” A man pulling a green suitcase joins the line she should be in.

“I was scared you’d reject me”

“But I'm on my way to create a life with Adam. And you want me to give all that away for you. Why?”

“Because I love you.”

Her face changes, it softens with shock. “You love me?”

“Yes. And I don’t care what I need to do to make it right. I’ll talk to Adam if you want me to. I’ll get you your job and apartment and car back. I will. We’ll make it work”

“Oh Andy!” she begins to run towards me. “I –”

“CUT!” The shrill feedback of the megaphone pierces the moment. The director begins his rant: “Noah, you’re too nervous. Andy is supposed to be poised and confident, he’s positive that Melissa won’t reject him. Jade honey run towards Noah with open arms at the end; Melissa is overjoyed by his confession. I think we should try again.”

Jade turns to me and rolls her eyes. Sparkling green eyes tucked behind her long, red curls. This is why I was nervous. Jade is perfect. The way she laughs, the way she tells jokes. How her heart radiates kindness. This scene where I am Andy and she is Melissa is the closest I will get to confessing for real.

“POSITIONS!” The director calls. They should really get a new megaphone.

I walk into my spot, every bead of sweat on my body dances as I move opposite Jade.

“ACTION!” The megaphone screeches. I try so hard not to quiver.

“Melissa, wait! I don’t want you to go to New Jersey with Adam. I want you to stay here, with me.” There is a faint trembling which clings to every word, hopefully the director will think it adds character.

“Oh, Andy…Why are you only telling me this now?” She responds with such grace and softness.

“I was scared you’d reject me”

“But I'm on my way to create a life with Adam. And you want me to give all that away for you. Why?”

“Because I love you.” I say so sincerely, the tension lifts of my chest like a dove taking flight.

“You love me?” She asks.

I imagine that we’re alone now, no airport, no whiney megaphone. Just her and me. I take a deep breath before I respond:

“Yes.”