Then, right there, in front of me, he totally folds and falls. The big muscular guy who I thought was absolutely perfect and invincible takes off the masks he carried and the long cape protecting him, and he looks at me.

-Its just me Vicky, just me

I gasp in shock, tears overwhelming my eyes and I run to him. It must be the adrenaline and the shock, I cannot speak. I feel flustered and I can only think of trying to recognize his eyes. And then…

-STOP! Let’s do it again, from the beginning.

The voice of the director interrumpts me mid-sentence. I brush off the tears from my eyes, my colleague Ben, playing the muscular superhero, gets up walks towards his water and puts the mask on again. I don’t know why the director’s voice bothers me so much. Its like he has a cigarette stuck on his nose, and the “stop” feels like an unexpected fire alarm that completely takes me out of the scene. I work hard for this you know? Ugh. Only if he wasn’t so damn hot would I say something, maybe even quit. I swear this man has to be a 70 year old dude trapped in this toned, perfectly shaved, elegant theater director. He is such a perfectionist that puts my color-coded, weekly planner to shame. Plus, I am good you know? I am! Like really good, like top of my class, straight As, award winning good. And what does he say “stop” ugh.

-Sabrina? SABRINA? Hello?

I quickly, come back to reality, looking at him directly.

-Are you going to gives us the pleasure of watching you interpret that scene again? Or would you like us to wait some more?

I roll my eyes, turn around quickly, shake my arms and do a quick little jump as I get to my place. I start blinking multiple times, put some drops and get into character. I see Ben in his place, he smiles at me signaling he is ready. Here I go again.

-Its just me Vicky, just me.

I run to his arms, holding back my tears, completely overwhelmed by shock and adrenaline. And say

-How

I stutter

-How can this be? You have been protecting me this whole time?

-Yes, Vicky. How can you not know? I care for you

And then I throw myself into Ben’s arms crying, looking at his eyes, closing them to finish with a…

-STOP! -says the director

-Come on! - I say - Are you serious dude?

-Dude? -he says

I caught him off guard, he clearly was not expecting me to reply back. In fact, I don’t know how I did. Dude? What is wrong with me. It takes him a second to regain his composure.

-Sabrina, my office.