The Next Day and… Side Effects?

I wake up the next morning, my body still tingling with the remnants of last night's passionate encounter. The scent of sex lingers in the air, a tantalizing reminder of the incredible night Emily and I shared. I stretch, my muscles aching deliciously, and my eyes land on a folded sheet of paper on the nightstand. The cover bears an imprinted lipstick "kiss" from Emily's lips, and I can smell her perfume on the sheet. I take a moment to inhale it, a smile spreading across my face as I remember the events of last night.

I open the note, and in Emily's handwriting, it reads: "I got called in earlier and didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful. Last night was amazing. Have fun with your project. Miss you lots. See you in two weeks. Love Emily XOXO. P.S. You should change those sheets. We made quite a mess." I laugh out loud, rereading the note, already missing her voice and her body.

I swing my legs out of bed, the cool air of the room hitting my naked body, and I walk over to the window, pulling back the curtains to let the morning light stream in. The cityscape stretches out before me, but all I can see is Emily—her body flushed with passion, her eyes locked onto mine as I moved inside her. I can still feel her, still taste her, and I notice that my perfect recall extends beyond the void, perhaps a part of the gift of control over my body and mind from the voyeurs.

I slip on some underwear and head to the kitchen, brewing a strong coffee to help shake off the remnants of sleep. As I take a sip, I pull out my phone and call Iris to ensure everything is set for next week’s shoot. "It’s all set up," she confirms. "Kathryn, Erik, and the rest of the cast are gonna meet you at the studio downtown." I can hear the excitement in her voice, and it mirrors my own. "Fantastic, I can’t wait! I’ll send along my shot list today," I tell her, my voice filled with enthusiasm. She acknowledges and disconnects the call, getting back to her duties. My fees weren’t fully discussed, but I know Iris can manage that.

After hanging up, I start to strip the bed, the sheets stained with the evidence of our passion. I throw them in the wash, a smirk playing on my lips as I remember the intensity of our lovemaking. I take a shower, the hot water cascading over my body, and I take my time, letting the steam fill the bathroom, remembering the feel of Emily's body against mine.

As I dry off, I wrap the towel around my waist and then dress in jeans and a t-shirt before walking into my home office. My office is a personal space, filled with items from my childhood that I've managed to hold onto. Figurines of Superman, Batmobiles, Lego builds, a "Sonic Screwdriver" from the Tenth Doctor, and movie posters line the shelves and walls. As I place the "Colt" on my shelf, it stands out, its detail and significance making it the centerpiece of my collected memorabilia. I place it next to another Impala model I own, the same type I have in my office. Kathryn was the first person, outside of Iris and Emily, to notice the significance of the car I often included in my shoots. It's a prop that's easy to clear since it has no decals that are intellectual property. “I still can't believe I got to drive one,” I say out loud, a sense of awe and gratitude washing over me.

I sit at my desk, grabbing a graphite pencil and my sketch pad. I flip through some of my previous sketches, admiring the detail and the emotion I've captured. A few have ended up in my office, but many, outside of Iris and Emily, have no idea they're done by my own hand. I stop at a sketch of Emily, a nude lifelike drawing she posed for. "You gonna draw me like one of your French girls, Joe?" I remember her joking as she struck a pose, her body glistening with a light sheen of sweat. I admire the drawing, remembering it was after another night of lovemaking. It’s a great memory, but after the gift of my extended, rather, infinite stamina, I was gifted, the feelings were more intense.

I turn to a clean page, my mind racing with the details of my proposed teaser trailer. I've always loved my work, and shooting beautiful women has always been a perk. I've worked with stars from my favorite films and shows, singers, and the like. But I've never been invited to build something from the ground floor, and the fact that it's "Supernatural" excites me even more.

As I sketch out my planned shots, I can't help but notice how quickly my hand moves across the paper. I’ve often relied on my mind's eye to translate onto paper, but it’s as if I’m literally tracing what I imagine, my visions appearing almost absent-mindedly. I wonder if this is another side effect of my perfect recall, but I shrug it off, focusing on the task at hand. I draw, my hand moving with precision and purpose, bringing my vision to life on the page.

The day passes in a blur of creativity and excitement. I order in for lunch, not wanting to leave the flow of my work, and when my watch beeps, informing me of the time, I finally put down my pencil, admiring the fruits of my labor. Next week is going to be a massive step forward in my career, and I'm ready to make my mark on the "Supernatural" universe. With a contented sigh, I send off the drawings to Iris to pass to the studio. Not for approval—my rider allows me total control of any and all shoots, though I still don’t have Final Cut—I don’t have to shoot anything I don’t want to. Iris confirms she received them, and I shut down my office. Today was a good day, and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.