FADE IN: on the pale blue beginnings of a sunrise. Our
lenses dilate and adjust. Birds chirp their first songs of
Scene One: A New Day, ready for Little Miss Sunshine to
come out and play. Characters bumble and bustle on cue,
though their tomorrow holds the secrets of yesterday. The
magic of The Never-Ending Story. Yet, we still gaze
through their eyes, screaming “Wake up, Truman!
You’re right!” There is more to life than what’s on
screen. If it were me, I’d take a knife to the film, cut my
own happy ending. A Thunderbird flying over a canon,
suspended in glory. But, day isn’t complete without
night. And out of the 500 Days of Summer, more than
half are misery. And, by next sunrise the lovebirds will
still be alive. And the Dude will continue to abide. Until
the screen fades to black, and we go back to real life.

Sophia Isabella Donati Goodwin is a writer across genres and aspring filmmaker, studying media studies and creative writing at Auburn University (Class of 2023). She has been published by student-run publications and local blogs. She loves science-fiction, her cat Sweetie, and playing video games with her partner.