Chapter 32: Yaron

It was Daniel who sent me the link to the article.

“Take a look at these photos. It seems Vee landed a role in a small movie.”

Except for a few exchanged texts, I hadn’t spoken to Vee in months. I had chosen to distance myself before the pressure of maintaining whatever we had in the past crushed us both.

Staying away from Vee kept me sane— kept me focused. There were days when I didn’t think of her at all.

I had finished my first year according to plan, and so far, I was excelling in my sophomore year. My life revolved around studying, playing video games online with Daniel, sleeping, and then more studying.

I vowed to leave behind everything that hurt and focus on the present.

Time passed mercilessly. Vee slowly faded into a distant memory.

I would be Yaron—without burdens, without baggage.

Without her.

Without Vee.

And I did it. Until Daniel sent me that link.

The article was about a movie. The first images from the set had been leaked. Vee was in the background. And yet, she stood out like a shining star. The media had already started to wonder who this girl with wild features and a cunning gaze was.

My heart stopped when I saw her. Stunning in a tight dress with cutouts at the waist, her hair down, and heels that made her legs look impossibly long. Her sharp stare. Her presence was so immense, it was impossible not to be dazzled.

I remembered what I had felt when I saw her— pride, excitement, and also jealousy—a possessiveness that made me want no one else to look at her.

It was like having a secret place in the forest that no one else knew about, or a secluded beach all to yourself. And then one day, you go there and find it swarmed with tourists—strangers who don’t appreciate its beauty, who don’t care for it. And when they leave, they leave their trash behind. Your special place is tainted. It’s not yours anymore.

She had changed her name to Raven Black.

A nerd like me couldn’t help but associate her stage name with a superhero. Or was she a villain? Had Vee been seduced by the dark side?

I squeezed the phone between my fingers. I still had her on speed dial.

It rang five times before she answered.

“Yaron? Oh my God, is it really you?”

“Congratulations, Vee. I just saw an article saying you got a role in a movie. Looks like you’re going to make it. I’m truly happy for you.”

I could hear her breathing on the other end. When she finally spoke, her voice was thick with emotion.

“You have no idea what your call means to me, Yaron. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. The press is fascinated with you.”

She let out a short, nervous laugh. “Well, let’s see what they say when the movie comes out. I have no idea how to be an actress.” She paused. “Have you spoken to my father? Can you believe he still doesn’t have a phone? It makes it very difficult for me to reach him.”

“My father says he’s doing okay.”

I didn’t think it was necessary to tell her that he’d shown up to work drunk a few days ago, and Dad had to send him home.

“What do you think my father will say?”

“Probably that you look older.”

Vee laughed at that.

“And Barnaby?”

“He’d probably say the movie is an immoral mess and that you are mediocre actress because you’ve never acted in your life. Then he’d go on about the golden age of cinema.”

“Sounds like him,” Vee agreed, with a chuckle. “And you? What do you think?”

Her voice trembled with restrained emotion.

“I think you look great, Vee. Or should I call you Raven Black now?”

“No! Don’t you dare!” she exclaimed. “Raven Black is who I show to the world. For you, I’ll always be Vee.”