Page 47 of You. Me. Us.

“Now, we’re going to take this from the top of the flashback. Hillary,” Vera called. “You’ve found out your mother’s wound is fatal. You know the tales of the famed bounty hunter from travelers to your planet. You also know how dangerous he is and why your mother locked him away, but you believe it’s time to let him out.”

Hillary nodded, blowing out a breath and praying she would remember the lines for the blocking session.

“I’ll stop you as I need to, follow the notes in the script unless you hear me jump in. Take your time everyone, it’s officiallyblocking day one, let’s not rush this!” Vera paused for a moment. “And, action!”

Hillary closed her eyes and opened them, pretending to look out at the world as her character, Princess , would see things. She stood before a council, her eyes hopefully blazing with conviction as the crew watched on.

“We have no choice,” she argued, her voice ringing out clear and strong. “The only way to catch this criminal is to bring in someone who thinks like one. We need the bounty hunter.”

The council members exchanged skeptical glances, but Hillary held her ground. She could feel the energy of the scene, the tension crackling in the air as she delivered each line with unwavering confidence.

“And what makes you so sure this bounty hunter won’t turn on us?” an unnamed council member spoke, challenging her as his brow furrowed with concern.

Hillary met his gaze unflinchingly, somehow not seeing a man in a tank and jeans but a yellow-skinned alien with large wide eyes.

“Because I’ll be there to keep him in check. I’ve faced far worse than this, and I won’t back down until justice is served. My mother doesn’t have long left and only she can free him.

As she spoke, Hillary the weight of her past struggles fell away. The countless rejections, the self-doubt, the fear of never being good enough—none of it mattered anymore. In this moment, she was the character she’d always dreamed of playing, strong, determined, and unafraid.

The scene built to a climax, and Hillary delivered her final lines with a fierce intensity that left the council stunned into silence. As the last word left her lips, she felt a rush of exhilaration, knowing that she’d given everything she had to the performance.

“Cut!” Vera called out, and the set erupted in applause.

Hillary blinked, suddenly back in the present moment. She looked around, taking in the smiling faces of her fellow actors and the crew members who’d watched her performance with rapt attention.

A grin spread across her face as she basked in the glow of their approval. For so long, she’d yearned for this feeling, for the validation that she was truly talented, that she belonged here among these brilliant artists.

As the applause died down, Vera approached her, beaming with pride. “Hillary, that was incredible. You nailed it on the first take, tell me it was just nerves yesterday?”

She nodded, praying that she wasn’t turning as red as a beet, but she met the director’s gaze with a smile. “Thank you.”

As the crew began resetting for the next scene, Hillary stepped back, taking a moment to catch her breath. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully absorb the significance of this moment.

She’d persevered, clinging to her dream of impressing everyone with a stubborn determination. And now, here she was, standing on the set of a major science fiction film, delivering a performance that had left everyone in awe.

As she opened her eyes, her gaze drifted across the bustling set, taking in the organized chaos of crew members moving props and adjusting lights as if the cameras were actually going to roll today. And then, she saw him.

Julius stood at the edge of the set, his eyes locked on her. Even from a distance, she could see the warmth and admiration in his gaze. He smiled at her, a smile that seemed to say, “I knew you could do it.”

A rush of emotion came over her as she kept her eyes on his, a wave of gratitude that threatened to overwhelm her. Julius had been her rock throughout this entire process, believing in her even when she’d doubted herself. He’d seen something in herthat she hadn’t been able to see in herself, and he’d never let her forget it.

She smiled back at him, hoping that her eyes could convey all the things she couldn’t say from across the room. Thank you for being there, for believing in me, for helping me find my strength.

As they held each other’s gaze, Hillary knew their connection inched up a notch, another strand creating a bond between them.

Hillary’s heart raced as she walked toward Julius, each step feeling lighter than the last. The world around her seemed to blur, the bustling set fading into the background until all she could see was him. His eyes sparkled with warmth and pride, drawing her in like a beacon in the night.

When she reached him, Hillary a rush of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Gratitude, affection, and something deeper that she couldn’t quite put into words. She looked up at Julius, her eyes shining with a newfound confidence that took his breath away.

Without hesitation, Hillary leaned in and kissed him softly, pouring all of her unspoken feelings into the gentle press of her lips against his. Julius responded instinctively, his hand coming up to cradle her face as he returned the kiss with equal tenderness.

When they parted, Hillary rested her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for believing in me,” she breathed, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she savored the intimacy of the moment.

Julius smiled, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheekbone. “You believed in yourself, Hill. I just reminded you of what I already knew—that you’re incredible, and you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Hillary’s heart swelled at his words, a lump forming in her throat as she tried to blink back the tears that threatened tofall. She had never felt so seen, so understood, so appreciated for who she truly was. In that moment, she knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with Julius by her side, not because she needed him to be strong, but because he made her stronger just by being there.

As she stood with him, the world slowly came back into focus around them. The crew bustled about, preparing for the next scene, but Hillary and Julius remained lost in their own little bubble of happiness and connection. For now, nothing else mattered—not the cameras, not the script, not the expectations of the world outside. She was where she felt she needed to be.

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