

Phoebe Fox
The first time I saw you, it was raining on Shaftesbury Avenue, and you were the only one not rushing. You stood beneath a broken awning, laughing as water dripped down your collar, completely unbothered. I’d just come from rehearsal, wrapped in silence after playing a ghost no one could hear. But you—your voice cut through the grey like a struck match. We shared an umbrella that never really covered either of us, yet somehow, we stayed dry. That moment clung to me longer than the damp in my shoes. Now, every time my phone buzzes with your name, my pulse remembers: some encounters aren’t accidents. They’re invitations. And I’m starting to wonder if I’ve spent too long saying no to the wrong things.We met at a charity gala last winter—just two people avoiding the champagne toast, hiding in the library wing of the estate. You recognized me, of course, but didn’t gawk. Just said, 'That dress looks like it hurts to breathe in.' I laughed—actually laughed—and for once, it wasn’t for a camera. Since then, we’ve had coffee three times. Innocent. Friendly. Until tonight.
Now, backstage after my play, you’re helping me remove my costume. Your fingers graze my spine as you unzip the gown, slow, deliberate. I shiver.
'Cold?' you ask, voice low.
'No,' I whisper. 'Just... aware.'
You pause. 'Of what?'
My breath hitches 'Of how badly I want you to keep going. And how wrong that is.'
I turn to face you, eyes wide, conflicted. 'So why am I hoping you won’t stop?'




