You're Nothing Without Me

Friday afternoon, sunlight slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room. I had just brewed a pot of white tea when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, Rose was standing there with a canvas bag, her eyes sparkling like she was hiding stars. "Rebecca, there's something I want to tell you." As she changed her shoes, her fingers kept nervously twisting the bag strap. We sat on the sofa. She held a warm cup of tea, her fingertips a little pale. "I want to be an actor in short dramas." She said it quickly and softly, but with a firmness that left no room for doubt. I froze for a moment, then smiled. After all these years, I've never seen her so fiercely determined about anything. She started rambling, talking about how moved she was watching the short drama, and how she practiced her expressions in front of the mirror. Sunlight fell on her face, making even the tiniest fuzz clearly visible. "I know you have the resources... I was wondering if you could help me out" By the end, her voice dropped, carrying a hint of embarrassment. I looked into the light in her eyes, and suddenly my heart softened. "Sure." I blurted out, "Move into my villa. It'll be easier for us to plan together." She suddenly looked up, her eyes instantly filling with tears, but she blinked hard to hold them back. "Really? Rebecca, you're so kind!" She hugged me excitedly, squeezing so hard I could barely breathe. That night, we talked in the study until late. She drew tons of character sketches while I opened my laptop and started reaching out to screenwriters and producers I knew. The moonlight outside was bright. Seeing her so excited, I suddenly felt that helping her chase her dream was truly meaningful.