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pastries that caressed his taste buds. Breaking his trance, however,
was someone, relatively forcefully, tapping his arm. After five photos
taken and the same number of autographs given, he left with a
stained magazine, half-eaten croissant and cold coffee.
More aggravated than before, he crossed the road and walked
into a nearby park where he sat on a wooden bench by the pond.
Looking across the water, the ducks quarreled while the delicate
autumn leaves rained around them with each gust of wind. Opening
his magazine, Nolan was mortified to see a picture of himself, just as
he did every day, walk onto his balcony, stretch and look to the cars
below, all, of course, without his shirt on. Fame brought him a world
where privacy meant nothing and his every move was open to
criticism. Overwhelmed with anger, he shouted and threw the
magazine into the pond. When he heard the single click of a camera,
he instantly regretted his actions. Storming back onto the main
street and towards his hotel, he was swamped by a mob of paparazzi,
one grabbing him to a halt. Without thinking, his arm swung around
and landed right on the man’s cheekbone. The crowd was silenced
by a loud ‘crack’ and the pavement was painted red. He looked down
with tears in his eyes at his blood-stained knuckles. Fame was
consuming everything that made him himself, changing him into
someone he couldn’t control.
Months passed and the date of the court hearing arrived. Legs
trembling and palms saturated, he listened to the testimonies of the
witnesses, each one stabbing him with guilt. After the confirmation
of the gavel, he felt the sting of the metal cuffs around his wrists. As
he glimpsed the man’s bandaged face and icy glare, he looked to his
feet. However, meeting the hopeful eyes of his loyal fans, his face
lifted; three months alone to reflect, regroup and not let these people
down again. Feeling the warmth of his mother’s arms wrapped
around his shoulders, he turned towards the packed corridor.
‘Sorry mum,’ he muttered.
‘
Into The
Spotlight
10