𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎// john deacon

epilogue

VALERIE SAT QUIETLY at one of the couches that sat Annie Lennox and David Bowie. It was one of the couches in the corner. Valerie had hardly any desire to talk to anyone at all today. She hadn't even wanted to come; it was too much to bear.

But she had to do it. For Freddie, and for John.

And so Valerie  absently nodded along to whatever David was laughing about while she sipped her drink, barely tasting it.

The concert had not yet started, so Valerie needed something to occupy her mind. Elena and Mary June were under the watch of Miami and whatever other musician they came across; they were responsible enough not to run off. Eddie, Michael, and the twins were staying with a baby sitter.

Appropriately, Valerie had had a boy and a girl. Freddie got his wish: both of his names were used.

"Valerie," David said, snapping Valerie back to reality. "We were talking about that time your lovely husband forgot the bassline to Under Pressure." He said in a kind attempt to bring Valerie back into the conversation, his arm hooked around her calf and his head leaning against her knee while he looked up at her.

"Oh, it bugged everyone for hours. Good thing Roger remembered it, yeah? I remember Freddie took him out to get drinks to reward him." Valerie said, a small smile gracing her face.

"Such an iconic line, and he forgot it. Would've made Hot Space an even worse album if you hadn't had that song on there." David said with a cheeky grin while he sipped his beer, and Annie scoffed.

"Hot Space was not a bad album. In fact, I think it's one of my favourites." Annie said defensively.

"It's in the top five for me. It's always between New Of The World and The Game for me." Valerie said, and David and Annie nodded, continuing the conversation about what their favourite albums were and why.

Valerie spaced out again.

She sat on the ledge of the couch, David's arm still hooked around her leg, while she stared at the bottom of her drink.

It seemed the past few months had aged her five years. She looked so tired and sad all the time.

And John was no better.

Five months after losing one of her best friends and it still hurt to even think about him. She wanted to cry just sitting there listening to everyone laughing and talking so happily as if nothing was wrong.

She was glad for this concert; it was raising money for The Mercury Phoenix Trust that Miami had organized, but it was bittersweet.

Celebrating one of her best friends, a music icon and legend who deserved it, but having to watch other people perform the songs.

It was hard to even listen to any Queen music anymore, let alone performed without Freddie.

She only wished she could enjoy this day without feeling like she might punch the next musician that gave her sympathetic talks.

She just wanted to go home and cry, and the day had only just begun.

But she knew she didn't have a right to continue wallowing in self pity as a lot of the people here were also grieving.

      Many of these people also lost a friend.

      "Valerie," a voice behind her said, and the conversation around her momentarily stopped while Valerie turned around to spot a distraught looking Brian.

     A simple nod to the group of people surrounding Valerie signaled them to resume their conversation, and David unhooked Valerie's leg to allow her to stand up and join Brian.