Choices: Part 1

I'm taking a brief break from the Vampire Series while I try to
figure out what I want to do with it. Plus I think it'd be pretty
hard to work this week's theme into the plot. "Over the hill"
doesn't go too well with vampires... Anyway, enjoy the
beginning of the latest story...

______________________


We make a million choices a day without thinking about
them. Do you wear the black shirt or the gray one?
Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? The decision of whether to
go for a double or triple shot in your vente iced caramel soy
latte is not likely to haunt you years later, no matter how silly
you sounded ordering that drink in front of that hot guy.
Most of the decisions we make on a daily basis are
forgotten seconds later.

She lived her life the way she wanted so, looking back, there
would be no regrets. The path she has taken has brought
tremendous successes, the love of a good man and the
greatest joy in her life, her twin girls. She should be happy,
basking in the contentment of the life she has built
for herself. A million girls dream of being her.

Her name was known throughout the world. She can't turn
on the television without seeing her face, hearing about her
latest project or the speculation about what role she
would take on next. When she walked into the room,
heads turned. People cared what she had to say.

She was in the glorious days between films, giving her
some much needed rest and time with her family.
They sunned themselves on the private beach during
the day, dropped insane amounts of money in the shops in
the afternoon and hosted lavish parties at night. All the
best and most beautiful were in attendance.

During one of these parties, she escaped upstairs. She
sat before her mirror and stared at her reflection, barely
recognizing herself. Polishing off her glass of
champagne quickly, she dissolved into tears.

These days her every movement is marked with a
sadness that reaches her very core. Beneath the
perfect surface, she grapples with the choice that has
always haunted her. She wonders how things would be
if she could just go back in time and relive that one
moment. She would give anything -
everything - to just be able to turn back the clock and
make that one choice differently...