How Stella Got Her Groove Back

[April Madrox]

The scene opens in a modest, dimly lit hostel room in Yokohama, Japan. The room is sparse, with a small bed, a wooden chair, and a table with a single lamp casting a soft glow. April Madrox sits on the edge of the bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hands. Her eyes are red from lack of sleep and the weight of her emotions.

She takes a deep breath, staring at the phone screen as she hesitates to make yet another call. Her finger hovers over the call button, her heart heavy with the fear of another unanswered attempt. Finally, she presses the button and brings the phone to her ear, listening to the rings that feel like an eternity.

The phone rings several times before going to voicemail. April's shoulders slump as she hears Brooklyn’s voicemail greeting.

Voicemail: Hi, you've reached Brooklyn. I can't come to the phone right now, so leave a message and I'll get back to you.

Her voice trembles as she begins to speak. “Hey, Brooklyn. It's me again... April. I know I've left you a lot of messages, but I... I really need to talk to you.”

She pauses, trying to collect herself. The silence in the room is almost deafening, the only sound being her shaky breathing.

“Look, I know you're hurting. I know this is all my fault. I pushed for you to forgive Dean, to give him another chance, and... and now we know the truth. He was behind the attacks on the Murder. He betrayed us. He betrayed you. And I'm so sorry, Brooklyn. I’m so, so sorry.”

April's voice cracks, tears welling up in her eyes as she continues.

“I should have seen it. I should have known. I wanted to believe that he had changed, that he could be trusted. But I was wrong. I was so wrong, and now you’re suffering because of my mistakes.”

She wipes away a tear, her hands shaking. The weight of the situation feels almost unbearable.

“Please, Brooklyn, I need you to understand. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted any of this to happen. You’re my sister. You’re my family. I... I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Her voice becomes more desperate, pleading with every word.

“Please, just give me a chance to make this right. Let’s talk, face to face. I need to see you, to tell you how sorry I am, to try and fix this mess I’ve created. I can’t stand the thought of losing you, Brooklyn. Not over this. Not over him.”

April’s sobs become more pronounced, her words choked by the raw emotion she feels.

“I … I know I messed up. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But please, please don’t shut me out. Don’t push me away. I need you, Brooklyn. I need my sister.”

She takes a shaky breath, trying to compose herself enough to finish the message.

“I’m staying in a hostel here in Yokohama. Room 12. Please, if you can find it in your heart to talk to me, to give me a chance... come by. Anytime. Day or night. I’ll be here.”

April’s voice softens, the heartbreak clear in every syllable.

“I love you, Brooklyn. I’ve always loved you. And I’ll keep trying to make this right, no matter how long it takes. Please, just…”

BEEEEEEEEEP

“just give me a chance” she whispers to herself, the call having ended moments before being able to utter the rest of her sentence.

Her hand falls limply to her side as she stares at the phone in her lap. The silence in the room feels heavier now, the loneliness pressing down on her.

April stands up slowly, crossing the small room to the window. She looks out at the city of Yokohama, the bright lights a stark contrast to the darkness she feels inside. She rests her forehead against the cool glass, her breath fogging up the pane as she whispers to herself.

“Please, Brooklyn... don’t give up on me.”

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{The scene opens in a dimly lit hostel room in Yokohama, Japan. April Madrox sits on the edge of her bed, holding her phone with a contemplative expression. She places the phone down on the small table beside her, straightens her posture, and faces the camera. The room is modest, with minimal furnishings and a small lamp casting a soft glow.}

“You know, Nat, me and you ... yeah, I see the similarities that people are always going on about. We’re similar in a lot of ways that really aren’t great, ya know? Me and you, we’ve both faced our share of pressures, the feeling of unachievable expectations, and betrayals.

Hell, I’m not going to sit here and deny that Dean’s betrayal two weeks ago stings like nothing else. It’s a fresh wound, and it cuts deep, and every time I close my eyes I see his face and it’s like rubbing sandpaper on that wound. But, no matter how much it hurts, I’ve gotta get back on that bike, yeah?"

{April pauses, her gaze dropping momentarily as she collects her thoughts. She takes a deep breath, looking back at the camera with determination.}

“Ya know, I’ve always appreciated your honesty, Nat. You’ve never been the type to pull any punches, and I respect that. Your friends and mine, for whatever reason they’ve just never seen eye to eye on … well, anything. But that’s beyond me - beyond you.”

{She leans forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she focuses on the camera.}

“It’s taken a hell of a lot of self-reflection lately to realize that I’m not alright over here. I’m like, a psychiatrist’s wet dream will all of the shit that’s going on up here.”

{April tries to laugh as she taps her temple but it doesn’t come across as amusing}

“Y’see, turns out, Nat that I’m afraid of not living up to all this potential I keep hearing about. I’m afraid of letting down the people who believed in me. But most of all, I’m afraid of losing myself in all this mess. That fear, though? Shit. It’s what drives me. It’s what pushes me to be better, to fight harder.”

{April’s expression softens slightly, a hint of vulnerability showing through.}

“I’ve spent a lot of time trying to be the rock for others, especially for Brooklyn. I thought if I could just be strong enough, if I could just support her enough, everything would be okay. But I see now that sometimes, being strong means standing on your own, facing your fears head-on, and not letting anyone else dictate your path.”

{She sits back, her voice steady but filled with emotion.}

“You ready for something weird, Nat? D’you want to see the real April Madrox, the one who’s not held back by anything or anyone? Then you’re in for a show. Because this week, I’m not just stepping into the ring to compete. I’m stepping into the ring to prove to myself, to my sister, and to everyone watching that I am more than they ever gave me credit for.

{April’s eyes blaze with determination, her voice rising with intensity.}

“I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I didn’t see what you said - kinda hard not to when I’ve got to fill your every waking moment with anything and everything to keep your mind busy lest you end up thinking about … him … again.

But, Nat - you talked about me taking risks, about me choosing to jump. Girl, I’m ready to jump. I’m ready to take that leap and show everyone exactly what I’m made of. I may have been betrayed, but I’m not broken.”

{She pauses, taking a deep breath, her expression softening slightly.}

“I know you, Nat. I know that you’re ready to bring your best, ‘cause anything less wouldn’t do, right? And I respect that. But don’t think for a second that I’m going to hold back or be easily pushed over just because my world seems to be falling apart over here.

See, this is more than just a match for me. This is about reclaiming my place, about proving that I have what it takes to be a top player in this game.”

{April’s voice is filled with conviction, her gaze unwavering.}

“You want the teacher, Nat? Then pop-quiz, what do you do when you’re facing a woman who’s found her direction, who’s ready to fight for her place and her future?

Oh, sorry - the correct answer was, ‘get out of the way.’ But, you get an A for effort, Nat - keep up the good work.

{April’s expression softens once more, a hint of a smile playing at her lips.}

Do you want to talk about some extra credit?

{The camera fades out, leaving viewers with a sense of April’s renewed determination and resolve.}