In most romantic comedies, there’s that moment – sometimes awkward, sometimes funny, sometimes both – where the two main characters meet for the first time. In this week’s Valentine’s Day installment of Storytelling Love, that moment arrives. I hope you enjoy reading this scene as much as I did writing it.

CUT TO: EXT. ROTHNEY ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY GROUNDS/MONOMYTH STATION - 20 MINUTES LATER

A number of round tables are set-up in a circle. A large copper firepit sits on the ground in the centre of the table cluster. Logs in the firepit are in a tower formation with flames shooting upwards and embers trailing into the night sky. The firepit has a 360-degree view of the fire and designs of howling wolves and the moon carved into the copper.

Each table is covered in white butcher block paper, with multiple colors of markers, crayons, pipe cleaners and individual tubs of Play-doh strewn across the table surface. In the centre of each table sits a lantern. Each table has a different question written across the paper in large block letters.

Close to each table sits a snack station with coffee, tea, bannock, biscotti and various preserves and single serve butters.

Arthur and Jane are seated at one of the tables across from each other. The question on their table reads: “What fictional character do you feel the most connected to and why?” Arthur picks up a blue marker and starts to draw a six pointed snowflake on the paper.

JANE
This is such a great question! It’s like the storytelling question we ask at our leadership camps. Now, whatever might your answer be? I bet I know!

ARTHUR
Do you now?

JANE
You know I do! Plus if there was any doubt, you are currently drawing a snowflake with a blue marker.

ARTHUR
Shhhh you! What about yours Jane? Oh wait I know. Raya.

JANE
You know me so well!

ARTHUR
Well, obviously! You are my work spouse.

Celeste walks over to Arthur and Jane’s table tapping Jane on the shoulder. Jane turns around sees Celeste and excitedly jumps up to give her a giant hug.

CELESTE
Hey Girl! I forgot what great bear hugs you give. So glad you could make it tonight.

JANE
Me too! It’s so beautiful out here. Arthur, this is THE Celeste I’ve been telling you about.

ARTHUR
Celeste, it is SO nice to finally meet you. Jane’s told me so many great things about you, and I learned so much watching your virtual talk on decolonizing education.

CELESTE
Jane’s great for my ego! Really, everyone needs a Jane.

ARTHUR
I agree!

JANE
Aww stop. But really – tell me again how great I am.

ARTHUR
Modest too!

Arthur, Jane and Celeste laugh. At this moment, Tom walks past their table into the centre of the cluster of tables, stopping close enough to the firepit to be illuminated from the crackling flames.

TOM
Hi everyone! Out of all the ways I get to engage with storytelling in my work, this question is my favorite. You see, throughout our lives, whether in books, movies or other forms of narrative, we feel drawn to certain characters and their stories. We see ourselves in the journeys they travel, the help they receive, the challenges they overcome and the moment they discover who they’re meant to be. So, when you think about your story which characters do you feel most connected to? Whether you talk, draw or create your answer I hope you have fun exploring.

An ember from the fire carried by a slight breeze floats past Tom, over the PEOPLE sitting at the tables, landing in the centre of the snowflake Arthur has now finished drawing.

Arthur, Jane and Celeste are now sitting at the table. Arthur is absentmindedly doodling, Jane is using Play-doh and pipe cleaners to build something that resembles a dragon and Celeste is writing an answer to the table’s question. Arthur is sitting next to Jane, who is sitting across from Celeste.

Arthur, Jane and Celeste are now sitting at the table. Arthur is absentmindedly doodling, Jane is using Play-doh and pipe cleaners to build something that resembles a dragon and Celeste is writing an answer to the table’s question. Arthur is sitting next to Jane, who is sitting across from Celeste.

ARTHUR
He’s a great speaker and seems so at home up there. And wow is he ever handsome!

At this wonderfully awkward moment Tom sits down across from Arthur. In registering this fact, the look on Arthur’s face, now in full blush, can best be described as deeply wishing this moment was in fact not happening. Tom however has a big grin across his face.