Claire wasn’t smiling. She never smiled at these things. She could stifle her sighs, but that was the best she could do.

She sat in the second row next to the catwalk amidst a packed audience. The fashion show was in full swing, with beautiful young models parading up and down the runway. It had been years since she had “aged out” of her modeling career, and now she occupied other roles in the industry. But coming to these things, watching the girls, it all just reminded her of what time had taken.

Suddenly the brightly lit stage went dark, and the music swelled. The crowd collectively held its breath in anticipation. They all knew who was coming out next: Navo.

Navo, the shortened nickname for Natalie Voss, had exploded onto the fashion scene only months ago. Discovered from relative obscurity, she was being called the most beautiful young woman of her generation. Everyone wanted her at their parties. She was on the cover of every magazine. Her social media was skyrocketing. The world couldn’t get enough of her.

The stage lights turned on, and Navo walked out triumphantly onto the catwalk. She strutted down the stage to raucous cheers and applause. Navo was all smiles, and confidence, and playfulness, and youth, and charm. Her face and body were perfect. She had everyone in the audience captivated.

And Claire…Claire had never felt so old and ugly in her entire life.

She looked around at the sea of faces, all enthralled with Navo, but as she scanned the crowd, she noticed something: someone was looking at her. “Michael?” she thought.

Her husband had told her he wouldn’t be able to make it to the show, so she hadn’t saved him a seat. But now here he was, staring at her from across the room as if no one else was in it.

Her husband had his eyes locked on Claire as if he were under a spell. She had his full attention, while everyone else stared at Navo. She blushed and lowered her gaze. Even after all this time, he could still make her blush.

She took out her phone.

[STOOOOOP!] She texted him. [I’m trying to watch the show. It’s my job!]

When the text went through, Claire saw Michael glance at his phone and then return to looking at her.

Onstage, Navo reveled in the applause and cheers, posing for the cameras and drinking in the moment. But neither Claire nor Michael noticed. They both stared at each other.

After a few seconds, Michael smirked, then subtly nodded towards the exit.

“Nooo,” Claire mouthed, even as the thrill swelled in her heart. They couldn’t. SHE couldn’t. She had to watch the show. They couldn’t go sneaking away like a couple of riled-up teenagers.

But all the reasons in the world didn’t stop that cheeky grin from spreading wider across Michael’s face. Without waiting, he slipped out of his seat and headed for the back.

Claire waited a moment, pretending to debate what to do, but the smile on her face showed her heart had already decided. She excused herself to her colleagues, then headed for the back with a lightness in her step that she thought she’d lost years ago.