Samantha sat patiently with the makeup artists, the familiar buzz of a film set humming around her. After a year-long hiatus from romance films, she was finally back in one, and the fact that it was shooting in Rome made it all the more appealing.

The film told the story of an American photographer who accepts a job in Rome and unexpectedly falls in love with a local college student. It was a lesbian romance. Typically, Samantha would have hesitated, wary of giving a bad representation of a community she wasn't a part of, but her best friend Kora was the director. With Kora in charge, Samantha felt sure the story would be handled with care and authenticity.

Once the makeup team finished, Samantha rose and made her way to the set, a picturesque bridge overlooking the Tiber River, where her character's first kiss with her co-star's character was scheduled to be filmed. They ran through the lines flawlessly, the tension building perfectly until the moment arrived for the kiss. Samantha leaned in, her movements precise and practiced, but just as their lips were about to meet, her co-star flinched, pulling back with a nervous stumble and completely ruining the take.

The director’s "Cut!" echoed loudly in the sudden silence. Samantha’s eyes snapped open, her professionally crafted romantic expression melting into one of pure, unadulterated irritation.

"Are you serious?" she hissed, her voice low and sharp, not quite yelling but carrying every ounce of her annoyance. "How do you mess up a fucking kiss? It’s the simplest part. We literally just have to stand here."