Chapter 4 Madelina #2
I throw my cup into the trash can on the sidewalk, then step inside the historic building. Instantly, the foyer brings a wave of nostalgia. The plush red carpet stretches beneath my feet, a vibrant contrast to the opulent gold wallpaper adorning the walls.
The ticket booth, with its quaint little window, is usually bustling on performance nights as patrons line up. Sometimes, it is so crammed in here that you’re barely able to move.
Taking a breath, I find my way to the grand double doors and step into the sprawling auditorium.
The sheer magnitude of the space ignites my excitement, the high ceilings soaring like the open sky.
I pause, struck by the memories flooding back of all the productions and of meeting the man I was supposed to spend my life with.
A smile sweeps across my lips as the echoes of applause and laughter linger in the air, and for a moment, time stands still as I savor the magic that once filled this room when this was my entire world.
The stage takes over the far end, framed with heavy red velvet curtains. I notice someone sitting on the edge, reading a playbook or a manuscript. As I walk down the aisle toward the stage, the woman lifts her head.
“Maddy?” Stella calls. “Is that really you?”
I nod with a friendly smile, watching Stella run down the steps to throw her arms around me. We spent most of last year working together on productions, so I’m not surprised to see her here.
“I missed you, girl.” Stella pulls me down to take a seat. “How have you been? Argh, what am I even asking? Stupid question!”
“It’s okay. I’ve been… well… trying to move on with life.”
“Of course.” She nods. “It wasn’t an easy decision.”
Just now, I remember Stella was invited to the wedding. Therefore, she would have been waiting with the other guests when the news broke.
“So, you were there, at the ceremony. How did… um…”
“What happened when your brother came out and told everyone?” Stella touches my hand to hold it tight. “Myles looked devastated, but your brother did a great job at making sure everyone left Myles alone. He told us the wedding would not go ahead and thanked everyone for their time.”
I bury my head in my hands. “How awful. People must be talking.”
“They are, but who cares about them? It’s your life, not theirs.”
“And Myles? Is he, still, you know…”
“He’s here. Not now, though,” Stella is quick to tell me. “Look, he’s okay. Just give it time.”
It isn’t what I want to hear, but the damage is done.
For now, I’ll take Myles to be okay. Better that than him being so devastated that he can’t get out of bed because he cries himself to sleep.
Or, that he’s sticking pins into a voodoo doll that looks just like me, which would explain why a random bird almost shat on me earlier.
“What about you? What’s happening?” I ask, desperate to talk about something else. “Have you finally started planning your wedding?”
“Yes! It’s next month. Tell me you’ll be there?” Stella grabs both my hands, pleading with her deep green eyes. “Nothing fancy since we’re starving artists trying to live in the most expensive city in the world.”
“Of course I’ll be there. Just let me know when and where.”
“Excellent! It’s at Bluebell Ranch. It’s cowboy themed,” she mentions with a laugh.
My own laughter mixes with Stella’s. Bluebell Ranch is much more small-town and country than Cinnamon Springs. Her fiancé, Brooks, plays in a country band, so none of this comes as a surprise.
“I know the place; it’s not too far from Cinnamon Springs. I’ll be there.”
We discuss work further until Esmeralda, the owner, enters the auditorium. I hear the sound of her heels tapping against the stage floor as Stella kisses me goodbye before leaving us to talk.
Esmeralda is dressed in one of her signature fuchsia capes. The delicate beading and fabric shimmer as she approaches the stage. She’s known for her eccentric fashion sense, and as a costume designer, I genuinely admire her fearless originality.
I have visions for others and always know what will work for someone else, yet for some reason, I lack that same vision for myself.
Clearly, since I’m wearing a plain tank top and a denim skirt—nothing about my outfit screams originality.
It just screams that I’ve been living out of a suitcase for far too long.
Esmerelda’s sleek black bob falls perfectly into place, the strands reflecting a glossy sheen, while her matching bangs frame her face in a way that highlights her striking features.
“You’re back,” she states with a stiff tone. “So, what does this mean?”
“I don’t know…”
She fixes her cape, but keeps her distance and a neutral expression. If there’s anything Esmerelda values, it’s honesty and loyalty. You do her wrong, and she will make your life a living hell.
“You know I never married, nor have I had kids. This theater is my family. It’s my life.”
“I know… it’s just working with Myles.”
“The show must go on, ma chérie.”
“Please, Esmerelda, just give me a little more time. I need to go back home to sort some things out.”
“I think you’re talented, Madelina—the best I’ve seen in a long time.
But this door can’t stay open forever. I never wanted you to quit on a whim, but you need to think carefully about your future.
Wherever one goes, the past will always find its way back.
The only way to move forward is to confront your past head-on. You understand me?”
Esmerelda is as tough as nails, but she has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen.
“I’m sorry I let you down.”
She takes a step toward me, then places her hand beneath my chin, lifting my face to meet her gaze. “We all have our cross to bear.”
I loved my job and thrived on the hustle of Broadway. I just don’t know if my heart belongs here anymore. As I glance around the room, I realize I can’t make a decision today, not when my head and heart aren’t in sync.
And maybe that’s the key to finding happiness. The two most essential things, working together harmoniously.
But then I remember what Esmerelda warned me about—the past will always find a way back.
Every quiet moment invites it back into my memories—all my actions, all my regret. For just one day, I want to feel like the whole world is new and exciting, and that every hard decision is well worth the heartache.
Inside my pocket, my phone vibrates with a text message. I pull it out, only to see a message from my mom checking in to see if I got to the city okay. I decide to swipe out and call her later, only to see the notification on my phone, “Memories—one year ago today.”
The photo is of Myles carrying me on his back as we walked along the sandy white beach in Bora Bora. It was an impromptu trip, and the moment I realized I loved him.
I was so happy.
At least, I thought I was.