Page 74 of You. Me. Us.

Julius’s expression twisted into agony for a moment and then was gone, but his eyes never left hers. “And you have the talent to do it justice. I’ve seen it first hand, in a scene and watching.”

As she listened to Julius’s praise, Hillary could feel her self-assurance returning, the knots in her stomach loosening with each passing second. There was something about his unwavering support that made her feel like she could conquer the world, one audition at a time.

“Thank you, Julius,” she said, her smile widening. “Your faith in me... it means everything.”

Julius reached out, his fingertips grazing her arm in a gesture of reassurance. “You’ve got this, Hillary. Just remember, no matter what happens in there, you have the power to captivatean audience. Trust in your abilities, and let the rest fall into place.”

With a final nod of encouragement, Julius stepped back as if he’d never been there at all.

Every fiber of her being screamed at her to talk to him about anything but the audition. To tell him that she sat up every night wondering if she’d been in the wrong to not go after him knowing she’d hurt him first.

“Number 52? Hillary Mitchell?” A bored-looking assistant poked her head out of the audition room.

Hillary’s heart leapt into her throat. This was it. Her big chance. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped forward.

As she crossed the threshold, she caught her reflection in the window. Her chestnut hair was coming loose from its ponytail, her cheeks were flushed, but there was a determined glint in her green eyes behind her glasses. She could do this. She had to do this. For herself, and for the dream she’d chased all the way from her little hometown. With one last deep breath, Hillary grabbed the doorknob and tried not to freeze for too long.

Julius’s words echoed in her mind, a gentle reminder of the talent she possessed and the passion that drove her forward. With a final glance over her shoulder, she caught his reassuring smile, a silent promise that he would be there, no matter the outcome.

As she stepped into the room, the bright lights momentarily blinded her, but Hillary refused to let her nerves take control. She straightened her shoulders, her green eyes sparkling with determination as she faced the panel of casting directors. The familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins, a reminder of the thrill that she never dreamed she’d experience again.

She couldn’t see who watched her, the bright flood light drowned out any ability to see beyond the brightness. Which meant anyone could be back there. Including Julius.

“My name is Hillary Mitchell,” she introduced herself, her voice clear and confident. “I’ll be auditioning for the role of Sophia.”

“You may begin when you’re ready.”

Hillary closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the character to wash over her, transforming her from the shy journalist to the fiery protagonist of the script.

As she launched into her monologue, the words flowed effortlessly, each line delivered with the perfect blend of emotion and nuance. She could feel the character’s struggles, her triumphs, and her yearning for something more, all woven seamlessly into her performance.

Time seemed to stand still as Hillary lost herself in the scene, the outside world fading away until there was nothing but the story unfolding before her. With each word, she could sense the panel leaning forward, their attention captured by the raw talent that radiated from her every move.

As she delivered the final line, Hillary let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, the room falling silent in the wake of her performance. She stood tall, her heart racing with a mixture of exhilaration and anticipation, knowing that she had given it her all.

“Thank you, Miss Mitchell,” the head of the panel said, a hint of admiration in her voice. “We’ll be in touch.”

Hillary nodded, a grateful smile gracing her lips as she exited the room, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. As the door closed behind her, she found herself face to face with Julius, his blue eyes shining with pride and something else she couldn’t quite place.

“You were incredible,” he whispered, his hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. “If you trust anything, trust that I didn’t lie to you about that.”

In that moment, with Julius’s unwavering support and the knowledge that she had conquered her fears, Hillary felt a sense of possibility wash over her.

As they stood together in the hallway, the bustling activity of the audition fading into the background, Hillary found herself lost in Julius’s gaze. His presence had always had a way of both calming and electrifying her, and now, in the aftermath of her audition, those feelings were amplified tenfold.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your support means everything to me.”

Julius’s hand tightened around hers, his thumb brushing gently across her knuckles before he pulled away abruptly.

In that moment, the years they had spent apart seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of connection that felt both familiar and thrillingly new. Hillary’s heart raced as she considered the possibilities that lay before them, the chance to rekindle what they had once shared and build something even stronger.

But as quickly as the thought had come, doubt began to creep in.What if too much time had passed? What if you’ve both changed too much to find your way back to each other?

“Good luck, Hillary.” Julius turned and walked away for the second time that day.

Could they make anything work for the sake of the premiere in a month?

thirty-three

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