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PATRICK

M y life couldn’t have turned out any better than it has. After Tina and I auditioned for the part, we both got picked for important roles in the film. I play Max Donovan, and she’s Clarissa Cane in the latest Alexander Dorn film, “Devil’s Reach.”

We finished shooting a week ago, but the film isn’t slated to come out for another eight months as they still need to work on some of the CGI effects. It’s going to be such a life changer for me. I’ve already been offered other roles to consider, and I couldn’t be happier. However, after throwing every last bit of myself into this movie, I need a break, and there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be than side-by-side with my newlywed husband, Michael, headed to first adventure on our honeymoon destination in Los Angeles.

Yep, home-sweet-home.

We walk hand in hand up the stone steps of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, the air warm but the breeze cooling enough to keep us comfortable. It's a grand building, with its towering columns and natural stone facade exuding a timeless elegance that always leaves me feeling small, but in the best way. Michael squeezes my hand, and I glance at him, his smile reassuring, grounding.

“We could’ve gone anywhere for our honeymoon,” he says, his voice soft, teasing.

“And yet we’re here,” I reply, grinning back at him. “But it’s not like this place doesn’t have its charm.”

Our honeymoon plans have been put on hold, obligations pulling us back to the city. Instead of disappearing to some far-flung, tropical paradise, we’ve decided to spend the next few days checking out local spots we’ve never had the chance to visit. The museum has been on our list for a while, and today feels like the perfect escape from the hectic schedule that keeps trying to pull us back into reality.

The moment we step inside, we’re greeted by the cool air and the vast, open lobby. The grandeur of it all makes me pause. I’ve been in countless buildings more luxurious than this, thanks to my career, but this place—there’s something ancient about it. It feels like stepping into a different world.

We wander through the exhibits, taking in everything from dinosaur fossils to precious gems, each display more fascinating than the last. Michael stops in front of a giant mammoth skeleton, his eyes wide, a boyish grin lighting up his face. It’s moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with him. Even after everything we’ve been through—the case that nearly broke us both—he can still find joy in the simplest things.

“Hey there,” a voice interrupts us, and we turn to see a man approaching. He’s wearing a security guard’s uniform, but it’s the easy smile on his face and the way he carries himself that catches my attention.

“Enjoying the exhibits?” he asks, his tone light but genuinely interested.

“Yeah, it’s incredible,” Michael replies, nodding towards the skeleton behind us. “This place is full of surprises.”

The man’s name tag reads Max Salgado , and there’s something about him—something that feels... familiar, like a kinship. Maybe it’s the way he looks at us, the way his eyes flicker just a little too long at the sight of our hands intertwined. I can tell Michael notices it too.

“I’m Max,” he introduces himself, shaking both of our hands. “I work here while I finish my degree. Hoping to become a curator someday.”

“That’s impressive,” I say, genuinely meaning it. There’s passion in his voice, a quiet determination that I respect.

Max nods towards the exhibit we’re standing in front of. “This one’s one of my favorites. We’ve got pieces here that are hundreds of millions of years old. Kind of makes you think about how small our lives really are in the grand scheme of things.”

His words hang in the air for a moment, and I glance at Michael, who gives me a knowing smile. It’s true. We’ve been through so much in the past year, things that felt monumental, life-changing. But here, in this space, with relics of a world far older than our own... it all seems so insignificant.

“Well, good luck with your degree, Max,” Michael says as we begin to move away. “You’ll make a great curator one day.”

Max’s smile falters, just for a second, but he recovers quickly. “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll see you around. Enjoy the museum.”

As we walk away, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to him, something buried beneath the surface. Trauma, maybe. God knows we’ve both been through our share of it.

“You feel that too?” I ask Michael, my voice low, as we make our way through another exhibit. “Something’s... off with him.”

Michael glances back over his shoulder, but Max has already disappeared into the crowd. He squeezes my hand again, pulling me close. “Everything’s fine, Patrick. Whatever craziness we dealt with last year, it’s over. We’re safe now.”

I nod, trying to convince myself that he’s right, but the nagging feeling lingers. There’s more to Max Salgado than meets the eye.

And something tells me we’re not done with the craziness just yet.

But, for now, this is the happiest I can ever remember being. The start of a new life with the man of my dreams. I couldn’t ask for a better ending to the old and beginning of the new chapter in my life. I’m truly going to be happy forever after.

I found my forever!

THE END