‘And now to announce the Brilliant Minds Award…’ Todd stood at the podium on the stage. His tall, stalky build was awkward to watch on stage as he strode with confidence. Mic in his hand, he waved his other, the screens behind him zooming in on his expressions. His brows furrowed as he looked down at the card in his hands, a growing smile crossed his lips. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I am so proud to announce the winner of this year’s award will be going to the lovely Anastasia Daae’ he proclaimed loudly followed by a quick movement of clapping as the card slowly floated to the stage floor.

From the side of the stage, behind it’s curtains walked a small, slender woman. She was dressed in a sheer white blouse that blossomed out along her high cinched waistline where a gray pinstriped pencil skirt painted down the rest of her abdomen, to the middle of her calves. The small slits in the front and back of the skirt being the only way to give room in it’s tight hem. She wore black, bold strapped heels that came to a dangerous point at the heel. Her dark ebony curls flowed freely down her shoulders, clearing her face with three silver bobby pins shaped into an upside down triangle to crown her curls into the back. As she moved towards Todd, she adjusted the mic resting on her ear as she cleared her throat, waving to the audience. ‘Thankyou so much Todd for bringing me out here tonight.’ She began, placing her free hand over her chest as he pulled a stool up to the podium for her. She let out a small, crowd pleasing laugh. ‘Oh thankyou Todd, as you know, for us on the shorter side, these small gestures..’ she paused as she stepped up onto the stool, looking up from the mic, her eyes on the camera as it zoomed in for the screens, a wide, bright grin spread across her lips before she turned to look at Todd briefly, then back at the audience ‘they have a very big meaning to us.’ She finished with a charming grin, allowing the crowd to empathize with her charismatic manipulation.

Todd lead the two of them out of the auditorium. ‘Ana, you did it again, I’m telling you, you truly are the face of every woman’s ideal, darling. Strong, confident, gorgeous, successful, young.’ He poked her side lightly as they moved towards the dining hall where he released her to grab two glasses of blush champagne. Handing one to her, he grinned wide. ‘Let’s go find your parents, I think I saw them over this way…’ he began to walk towards the left of the dining hall. ‘ANA’ a familiar voice filled Ana’s ears. Her brows furrowed as she recognized the voice to be her mother’s. it didn’t take long for a short, large statured woman to pardon her way through the people only to come face to face with her daughter.

'oh you think this is funny' Ana breathed out with annoyance. staring back at her with an amused grin was her ex husband. He stood, raising his hand towards the ring on his necklace, he tilted his head with a small smirk. 'Ana, do you miss me..?' he continued to step towards her. She slid her foot back, slowly stepping back until she could feel her fingertips brush the wall behind her. Looking up in his eyes, she rolled her own. 'Useless drama and uncalled for behavior? Right, I miss you.' she snorted. He was nearly pressed to her chest, dropping his hand from the necklace, he raised his brows. 'Don't you think wearing that kind of thing is a bit tacky, Axel?' she snapped. pressing her hands to his chest, she pushed him away. he refused to move. his hands moved up to her wrists. he swallowed hard before he closed his eyes and leaned to kiss her wrist. she watched him, her cold stare softening at the faint touch of his lips. she had missed them. they felt the same way they had years ago. lips that could heal. lips that had healed. 'Axel, please don't do this to me..' she whispered as he lifted his lips from her skin, matching her desperate glance. his deep blue hues burned into her cerulean ones. 'I miss you, Ana.' he sighed out finally. She began to shake her head and as she went to pull away, he tightened his hold on her. 'please.' he whispered. Briefly, Ana looked down before meeting his eyes again, only to find now, they were filled with tears. An uncomfortable shade of red swelled around his eyes as his bottom lip wobbled. 'I am going to die without you, Ana.' he begged.