"Stay with me." A voice echoed in the back of my mind.

I can hear footsteps coming towards me; a gust of wind brushes my ears right before I hear someone whisper. "Honey? It's time to get up." My eyes flutter open to see his bright smile. You can do this, just a moment longer.

"Cut! Okay everyone, that's enough filming for today."

As I pick up my bag and get ready to leave the studio, my coworker taps me on the shoulder. "Hey, wanna get some food with me and the others?" He motions towards a chattering group of familiar strangers.

"Alright, but are you sure everyone's okay with me tagging along?"

"Of course, we gotta practice that kissing scene, right?" He brushes a hand through his curly locks.

"Yeah, I guess." My cheeks heat up imagining the scene in real life.

Wait, I thought we were getting food with the others? I don't bother to question it further as he extends his hand, inviting me to take it; I hold his hand. Will he leave, or will he carry on? He flashes another smile. I trail behind him as he takes slow steps towards the exit door, which seems to be glowing under the studio lights. As I watch the door get closer, I feel a strong sense of dread, and suddenly, leaving the studio is the last thing I want to do.

I turn back to see the director, who's... fading?

Looking ahead, I examine my coworker's shimmering orange locks as they fade away with the world around me.

Suddenly everything is very bright, yet none of it compares to the blinding light I can see up ahead. There are trees, probably the most beautiful I've ever seen.

Am I even in the recording room anymore?

My vision seems to return to normal, and I find myself outside, still holding his hand. A picnic table stands right in front of us, decorated with a tablecloth, picnic basket, plates, and drinks.

"Take a seat." He lets go of my hand and sits down. None of this makes sense, but I feel strangely calm and sit down next to him, putting my bag down next to me.

I look down at my plate-a slice of bread garnished with strawberries-and take a bite of the strawberry. Delicious. I look at his orange hair, which now smells like strawberries. I examine his smile, so bright it could blind me.

A cup of lemonade sits next to my plate, so I take a few sips. "You can't do this to me." A voice echoes in my mind. "There is no me without you."

"Charlie?" I say. He turns towards me.

"Yes?" His name is Charlie, but I'm not sure why or how I know this.

I'm sorry. "Can you play me a song?"

Charlie pulls out his phone and puts on a familiar song. He extends his hand towards me for the second time today. "Care to dance?" I study his face and can't seem to make out anything but his sweet smile.

I stand up and take his hand. "Well of course." He spins me in a circle, my leg lifting ever so slightly off the grass. After that he puts a hand on my waist and guides me in a circle. We complete the dance with our faces just inches apart. "Darling, please..."

He separates himself from me, seemingly unfazed, and says, "Hey, let's practice our lines now.''

I mutter some form of agreement and reach into my bag, which is right where I left it on the picnic bench. My eyes start watering as I take the script out of my bag. "Leave, please? You have to leave me here..." I can feel a tear running down my cheek.

"Darling, I love you, so there's no way I'm leaving!" He smiles at me, "You're such an amazing actor."

Acting? Yeah... Everything's fine. We're only acting.

He looks down at his script, "Okay, you stay right here." He steps back while holding his script, and suddenly he seems so far away. He's out of my reach.... I read in between the lines that reek of fear, of blame. I get the urge to step closer to him.

He's facing away from me, but then dramatically turns around. "I miss you, will you come home again darling?"

I wish, but how can you love me when I'm gone? I hear a voice again, it sounds desperate... almost real. "Please, get up, how will she feel when she finds out?"

"What?" I say aloud, coming back to reality.

"Will you come back home?" Charlie says.

"Oh... Sorry, yes... Of course."

"Shall we practice the kiss now?" He smiles at me, I swear it gets brighter every time he smiles.

I smile too, "Sure."

He grabs my hand, twirling me one last time before stopping to land a featherlight kiss on my lips. One. Last. Time.

Nothing around me looks real; the trees are too green and the light is so blinding, but all I can focus on is this kiss, his scent of strawberries. I barely even notice as the leaves on the trees change color from a light green to a beautiful shade of yellow.

The sky is bright as if it were daytime, but I can see all the stars of the night more clearly than ever before. My face is no longer near Charlie's and I hold onto his hand, holding on tightly as if my life relied on this moment.

I look towards his face again, seeing that smile, unchanged and unfazed.