She kissed the scars on his skin.

Chapter 15

The day Vic took me shopping? I bought the dress, a cropped denim jacket and some converse pumps. All with Danielle's approval. And some make up. She's coming over to help me get ready before the show. I have showered and my hair is damp when I open the door to her. She smiles at me reassuringly and I feel my nerves die down a tiny bit. I'm already dressed so she sits me down on a kitchen chair and works her magic on my hair and face. She brought her own hair straighteners and makes my hair look amazing. It's generally an unruly mop of wavy black. She does my make up naturally. You can tell it's there but only just. I'm glad because I rarely wear it so I didn't want to look like a teenage chav.
It's time to go. My hands are shaking with nerves. Vic texted her to say Tony is in the dressing room and won't see us coming in. Danielle leads me out to her car and we set off. The venue isn't far and within twenty minutes we are walking towards the back entrance. I take a deep breath and follow Danielle. She shows me to a seat on the opposite side of the stage to where Tony will be so he won't see me at first. Vic and her tell me they're going to bring me out on the stage so Vic can sing to me, like he does to one person at every show. Danielle has agreed to stay with me until that point which I'm glad about. It will give me more incentive to not run. It's dark here and I see the guys walking into the stage behind a curtain. I hear the music start up. Danielle explained already it's their intro and the curtain will drop in a moment. My hands are still shaking and I feel so nervous.

So far the show has been amazing. I can't believe how much Tony is moving about. I still remember him as the guy who had all those injuries and now he's doing this. I smile to myself when I hear Vic asking the guests of honour to make their way up onto the stage. I look at Danielle and she shakes her head. Not yet. I see my colleagues and some of the guys from physio up there and feel like a panic attack is coming. Danielle takes my hand in hers and smiles reassuringly.
"I'll come out with you when Vic says ok?"
I nod. I don't want to disappoint Tony, who is giving a little speech about how the care he received saved him. He says there was meant to be a couple more guests but that although they couldn't make it, he thanks them anyway.
The nursing crew troop off the other side and they do one more song before Vic says he has a special surprise. Oh crap. This is it.