Stars of My Heart

Emily went into the bathroom and let the hot water from the shower run over her body, relieving the tension that had built up during the day. The combination of heat and silence made her thoughts wander. The tiredness from work, Roberto's shouting, and even the invitation to the awards event, everything seemed to dissolve under the constant flow of water.

After a few minutes, she got out of the shower, drying herself quickly and putting on the pajamas she had set aside. The soft fabric felt like a comforting hug, and she sighed as she walked back to the bedroom, running her fingers through her damp hair as she walked.

When she reached the living room, Matthew was lying on the couch, with one arm resting behind his head and his eyes focused on the ceiling, as if he were lost in thought. When he noticed her presence, he turned his face and smiled.

"Finally! I thought you had moved to the bathroom."

Emily laughed and shook her head.

"If I had, I would have gotten rid of all the problems in there."

"And left me alone? No way," he replied, opening his arms in a silent invitation.

Emily hesitated for a moment, but eventually gave in, lying down next to him and resting her head on his shoulder. He adjusted his arms around her, holding her carefully.

"Did I mention that I love it when you wear those pajamas?" he commented, in a teasing tone, as he played with the edge of the fabric of her sleeve.

"And did I mention that you're too observant for your own good?" Emily replied, laughing lightly and nudging his abdomen with her elbow.

"It's your fault. I can't help but notice," he said, smiling and kissing the top of her head.

The comfortable silence reigned again, but this time it was accompanied by the soft sound of their breathing and the distant noise of the city outside. Matthew seemed to want to say something, but he hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

"On the phone earlier. Was that Gabriela?" he asked casually.

Emily nodded, turning her face to face him.

"Yes. She mentioned the Aurora Awards. I got an invitation, but I won't be able to go because of the recordings."

"That's great! Being recognized at events like this means your work is being noticed."

Emily shrugged, looking a little thoughtful.

"Maybe, but I still feel far from reaching the top. Sometimes it feels like I'm still just a "B-list actress", you know?"

Matthew frowned, holding her face gently so their eyes met.

"You're so much more than that, Emily. And it's not a title or an award that will define your talent or the impact you make. You have something that no one can take away from you: authenticity."

She was silent, absorbing his words, while her eyes shone with a mixture of emotion and gratitude.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice low but full of feeling.

"Always," he replied, leaning down to kiss her softly.

When the kiss ended, Emily stood up slowly, stretching her arms and looking at the clock on the wall.

"Tomorrow is another long day. We should rest."

Matthew stood up with her, grabbing the remote and turning off the TV that was on in the background.

"I agree, but only if you promise to give me another kiss before bed."

Emily laughed, moving closer and holding his face with both hands.

"Promise kept."

She kissed him again, a simple gesture, but full of affection and comfort. Then, they both walked together to the bedroom.

Matthew watched Emily as she settled into bed, wrapping herself in the blankets as if to protect herself from the world. He smiled, thinking about how she always managed to find a balance between being strong and vulnerable. After turning off the lights, he lay down next to her, resting his head on one hand as his eyes followed her in the darkness.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" she asked, her eyes half-lidded and her voice thick with sleep.

"I'm coming. I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"How amazing you are."

Emily smiled softly, even though she was exhausted.

"You really know how to make a woman feel special."

"Just being honest," he replied, running his fingers through her hair. "Tomorrow is going to be another busy day, but remember that you're not alone."

She sighed deeply, closing her eyes and snuggling closer to him.

"Thank you, Matt. I love you."

"I love you too, my star."

With those words, a comfortable silence settled in, and soon the room was filled with the rhythmic sound of Emily's breathing, who had finally fallen asleep.

The next morning, the alarm clock rang too early for Emily's liking. She stirred lazily, trying to ignore the sound, but Matthew, already awake, reached out and turned it off.

"Come on, sleepyhead. Time to shine."

Emily grumbled, covering her head with the pillow.

"It can't be late yet..."

Matthew laughed, gently pulling the pillow away from her.

"Get up, or I'll tell Roberto you're late."

That made her open her eyes quickly, sitting up in bed and staring at him with an expression of mock indignation.

"You wouldn't dare."

"No?" He raised an eyebrow, defiant, but laughing.

She narrowed her eyes, but ended up laughing too, shaking her head.

"Okay, okay. You win."

Matthew walked over to the wardrobe while Emily stretched and slowly stood up.

"Want some coffee?" he asked, already walking toward the kitchen.

"Please! I need the energy to face another day with Roberto yelling in my ear."

While he prepared the coffee, Emily went to the bathroom to get ready. A few minutes later, she appeared in the kitchen, more awake, but still with a tired expression. Matthew handed her a cup of coffee, watching her as she took the first sip.

"Better?"

"Much. You're a hero."

"Just playing my role as a devoted husband," he replied with a smile, leaning over to kiss her on the forehead.

After they had breakfast together, Emily picked up her bag and got ready to leave. "I don't know what time I'll finish today. Roberto wants to shoot some more challenging scenes."

"Just be sure to text me when you're free," Matthew said, holding the door for her. "And if you need anything, I'm just a phone call away."

"I'll be right there, Mr. Lancaster," she joked, winking before leaving.

On set, the day started as intense as she expected. Roberto was agitated, gesturing frantically as he gave instructions to the crew.

"I want more emotion, more intensity! This isn't a rehearsal, guys! This is the heart of the movie!" he shouted, pacing back and forth.

Emily exchanged glances with Artur Mars, who looked just as exhausted as she did. He approached as they both waited for the next take.

"I bet he screams more today than he did yesterday," Artur commented, with a tired smile.

"I don't doubt it. I think he practices in the mirror before he comes to set," Emily replied, laughing lightly.

"Well, at least we're on the same team. That makes it more bearable."

She shrugged.

"Maybe. But I still want to survive until the end of the day."

Artur laughed, but before he could answer, Roberto appeared again, calling them for the next scene.

The day passed in a whirlwind of recordings, adjustments and endless repetitions. When they finally reached the last scene, it was already getting dark, and everyone on the team seemed on the verge of exhaustion.

"Perfect! This is what I want to see! " Roberto exclaimed, finally satisfied. " You can call it a day."

Emily let out a sigh of relief, gathering her things and getting ready to leave. As she passed Artur, he called out to her.

" Hey, how about we go to some tourist attractions to forget about Roberto's screams?"

She looked at him with an exhausted expression and replied with a huff:

" I'll pass. Good night, Artur."

Without waiting for an answer, she left, relieved to finally be able to return to the hotel.

In the car, Emily took out her cell phone and started scrolling through her Instagram feed. The glamorous photos and news of brilliant events made her sigh.