Get Ready for the Next Step

It took him another two days before he decided to talk to Dominik about his mother. More or less this time was needed for the relations between them to return to normal and Śliwiński ceased to look away from him.

Despite the fact that the intimate secrets of his life became for Nowicki, it was not easy for him to raise such a personal topic as the relationship between a mother and son. Finally, after having a light breakfast together, when they got up from the table and entered the living room, he dared to touch on this subject.

"My mother?" Dominik asked, confused. "What about her?"

"I was wondering what kind of woman she is?"

"Hmmm ... I think she's decent. She has worked hard all her life. She is ... a mother."

"Why don't you tell her you're gay?"

Dominik bit his lip.

"My parents are very religious. Homosexuality is a terrible sin and a disease for them. If they found out that their son was a degenerate, my mother's heart would break."

Oh, Dominik, even now you think about others first, not yourself, the photographer sighed in his mind.

"Will her heart not break when she finds out that you did not turn to her when you suffered?"

"I'm an adult. Grown-ups don't run to mommy with their problems."

"I would have gone to mine, if she had lived."

"And you would say to her: 'Mommy, I'm gay and my lover ...'" he could not finish his sentence.

"'... and my lover,' what? Why did you stop?"

"I don't want to… talk about him" Dominik replied grimly.

"You should" Andrzej stated firmly. He didn't know if he was doing the right thing, but he wanted the young actor to face the truth, to speak it aloud. If he stifles her, she will at some point choke him and take his breath away. "I know what your lover has done lately. Maybe I'm the only person in the world who knows this besides him and you. You think I'll be shocked by the truth?"

"No, I…"Śliwiński seemed to be withdrawing.

"Do not run away!" Andrzej stopped him. "What is your lover? What's your lover like? Say it! Say it to hell!"

"He's a beast!" Dominik shouted with tears in his eyes. "He is mean, violent and heartless, and yet ... yet I ... still love him ..."

Tears flowed from his eyes as if they had let go of the last dams. Maybe it was so, thought Andrzej, watching Dominik tremble.

He's about to fall to the ground, Nowicki thought in horror. His sobs shake Śliwiński so hard that he will not stay on his feet.

Andrzej couldn't let that happen. He wrapped his arms around Dominik and pressed him tightly against his chest. He felt hot tears on his chest, he felt the spasms of crying shake Śliwiński's body.

'Cry, thought Andrzej,' cry as much as you can, because this is perhaps the last such occasion. '

What Piotr Duda said about Dominik's uncertain situation on the film market was disturbing and Nowicki knew that Śliwi��ski, lost in sadness and apathy, would not be able to cope with this situation. You had to be tough in this market or you would be eaten by hungry wolves. Fighting for survival, Dominik will not be able to show weakness, let alone tears. He will have to be strong, much stronger than he is now. But to get this strength, he needed to face the brutal truth about Marczak. He had to get out of this pain and leave it behind him.

Andrzej did not stop hugging Dominik until the actor calmed down.

Dominik was the first to make the move. He stepped back at arm's length, staring down at the ground.

"Thank you," he said. "I feel better now."

"You want to be with him? With Marczak?"

Śliwiński shook his head.

"Part of me loves him, it's true. I cannot forget that he taught me love and… pleasure. He always looked after me so I didn't have to worry about anything. But sometimes he had certain requirements that… it wasn't easy for me to meet. I agreed, because this is what love is all about, to give another person happiness, but Marek knew that I didn't like it, and yet he asked. If he loved me, he wouldn't be doing it."

Suddenly Dominik laughed bitterly. He rubbed his tearful eyes with his hand.

"I don't know if I will ever stop loving him," he added. His tone changed to calm and firm. "But I certainly don't want to have anything to do with him."

"That's good" Andrzej felt real relief. He forced Śliwiński to confront himself. He was afraid of the result of this fight, but the effect was satisfactory. Together with Dominik's tears flowed this painful bitterness And now the young actor could slowly begin to face reality. "Then check this out."

Nowicki extracted the latest issue of the magazine, on the cover of which Dominik's face was smiling at the readers.

'Dominik Śliwiński, a young actor who has been winning the hearts of female fans with a hit for several years, decided to reveal a few details about his private life and how his work influences his life. He'll also make a shocking confession about why he doesn't star in the Baptiste blockbuster.'

Dominik sat down on the couch. His hands were trembling.

"Shocking confession ..." he almost whispered.

"Read on."

Then there was an interview with him by Duda. At the very end, the author added a paragraph:

"Dominik Śliwiński, as he said himself, is only human. So he has the right to be tired or discouraged. For us, however, he is more than that. His work gives viewers the intensity of emotions and the pleasure of communing with Art. Śliwiński sacrifices some of his personal happiness for such effects. So let's support him with his decisions and let exist him not only as an actor, but also as a man."

The actor put the newspaper down on his lap and remained silent. Andrzej sat down next to him, taking out the tablet.

"The article received a very favorable response. The most common comments were that people were not aware of how much effort and commitment you put into your work, because everything seems so easy for you. People really want to watch you. A long thread of comments was devoted to Polish comedies. Most of the readers picked up on your idea. One of the actresses who partnered with you commented on your article on her social profile. Have a look."

It was the profile of Oliwia Bartnicka. He played with her once or two years ago in a romantic comedy. The actress was a charming, petite blonde with whom the media briefed Śliwiński in an affair in real life. She was currently the star of a very popular series.

'Everyone in our industry knows about the loss of privacy. Some of us like to shine in front of cameras and are happy to interact with the media. Others, and Śliwiński is only one of them, prefer to completely separate their private and professional lives. Sometimes it's good to be able to just relax and chill out without worrying that some hilarious or compromising photo taken by a professional or amateur paparazzi will end up in the tabloids. Then we feel robbed of fundamental human rights ... '

"Didn't her picture appear in the press this summer in an oversized bathing suit?"

"Only the top was too big ..."

"'We feel robbed of fundamental human rights ...'" repeated Dominik and a pale smile appeared on his lips.

For some reason, Andrzej felt like Christmas had come.

"So, let's try, what is the real response of your interview? Do you feel up to the fresh air?"

Śliwiński turned his eyes on him. They weren't as warm and lively as ever, but Andrzej could have sworn he saw the first sparks in them.

Dominik was ready for his first challenge.