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Phoenix
Part 21: Shadows of a New Beginning
Everyone leaves the company. The corridors slowly empty, the lights dim. Phoenix quietly packs up her makeup table, then steps out into the street. The cold evening air gently touches her face.
She doesn’t know that meanwhile…
Albatross is already sitting at home, dialing Esra’s number.
Esra (in a lively voice):
“Hi, my love! You finally answered.”
Albatross takes a deep breath, his voice quiet and serious.
Albatross:
“Esra… we need to talk. What we have… it doesn’t work anymore.”
Esra’s voice breaks.
Esra:
“Albatross… is there someone else?”
Albatross closes his eyes.
Phoenix’s face appears before him: the way she smiled… the way she cuddled up to him during the movie… the way she slept.
But finally, he speaks softly, honestly.
Albatross:
“No. There’s no one. I just… don’t feel the same anymore. That’s all.”
After a long silence, Esra replies:
Esra:
“I understand. Then let it be this way… take care of yourself.”
The line disconnects.
Albatross buries his head in his hands.
He knows that because of Phoenix, this hurts even more.
Albatross calls Phoenix—but she doesn’t answer.
For a few minutes, he just stares ahead, then grabs his phone and dials again.
Ring…
Ring…
Ring…
Phoenix looks at the screen.
Her heart skips a beat, but she quickly suppresses it.
She doesn’t answer.
She has decided: she will keep her distance.
Phoenix sits down on the edge of her bed at home.
The room is silent, only her heartbeat can be heard.
And then… images flash through her mind:
– when they cooked together…
– when she cuddled up to him during the horror movie…
Phoenix closes her eyes.
Phoenix (to herself, with a bitter smile):
“Of course… what does any of this matter if he has someone. And if they have such a beautiful life… together.”
She still believes that Esra is Albatross’s girlfriend.
Albatross Remembers Too
In his apartment, Albatross sinks onto the couch.
He sees Phoenix’s figure before him:
– the way she smiled at breakfast…
– the way she sometimes blushed when he touched her…
– and the way she turned away from him at the studio today… for some reason.
Albatross whispers softly:
Albatross:
“Phoenix… why did you pull away from me again?”
Phoenix takes out the small notebook where she always writes her feelings.
She sits on the windowsill and quickly pours emotional lines onto the paper:
“Why does it matter so much what he does, who he talks to?
Why does it hurt if he smiles at someone else?
I just… want to feel nothing.
But I see every moment before my eyes…
And I’m afraid that I was the only one who imagined it all.”
She puts the pen down and sighs deeply.
Suddenly, Emma bursts into the room, holding tea in her hand.
Emma:
“Alright, Phoenix, that’s enough now! I want a story!
What happened to you while you were gone?!
What do you mean you suddenly come back, start working again, and meanwhile you look like someone who’s cried through three romantic dramas?”
Phoenix looks up, trying to dodge the question with an awkward smile.
Phoenix:
“Nothing… nothing special happened, just… you know… a lot of work… and the sun was shining… and…”
Emma narrows her eyes.
Emma:
“Phoenix. Don’t look at me like that.
You have definitely fallen in love with someone.”
Phoenix immediately turns her head away, her face flushing red.
Phoenix:
“I… I just…
Good night, Emma!”
Emma:
“Phoenix! You’re coming back! You can’t leave this like this!”
Emma sighs.
Emma:
“We’ll continue tomorrow… because I know something is going on here.”
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