Chapter 2
Chapter 2

New York City… Across the ocean and what seems like a world away from the Moulin Rouge, a wealthy American woman was going through he memories of the past. Europe, her world travels, her friends, her family, a life she used to know. Though her family had immigrated within the last few years, she had never forgot Europe, especially since she had the letters from her dearest friend, Satine.

When Diana Barrister was younger, her wealthy Irish family had spent some time in Paris while her father was on business. One day, she managed to get out to explore her surroundings, eventually ending up in Montmatre. This vibrant area, rich in art, music, and a culture that she had never seen before, enthralled Diana. She became instantly addicted. Diana explored the entire village, looking quite out of place. She eventually stumbled upon a nightclub, closed for the daylight hours with a girl about her age playing around in the courtyard.

"Excuse me? What is this place?" Diana asked the girl.

"This is the Moulin Rouge, my home."

"You live in a night club?"

"I was adopted by this night club, one day I'm going to be an actress and I just maybe the star here." the girl replied.

Diana was getting more and more intrigued by this.

"My name is Diana Barrister and yours is?"

"Satine."

The girls became fast friends, spending all their available time together while Diana was in Paris. When Diana's family moved on, the girls swore that they would never lose touch with each other. Letters between Satine and Diana became an unbreakable bond. They wrote each other about everything. Diana spoke of her travels, to London, Rome, Berlin, Monaco, Moscow, and other parts of Europe. She spoke of her home in Dublin and later New York. She also told Satine when she received her university degree in Literature.

Satine always wrote of her life at the Moulin Rouge, how she became the star and the Sparkling Diamond, and all of her many lovers. Each woman thought that the other's life was more exciting than her own.

But in 1899, both of their lives changed…