For Your Eyes Only [h.s.]

Ch. 70 - The Present (The Concert)

Harry Styles
June 1, 2022
Backstage of Royal Albert Hall

"Glasses? When did you start wearing glasses H?" Niall asks. 

"They're for reading asshole... and Addy loves when I wear them" I tell him, staring at myself in the dressing room mirror. 

"Nevermind then. They're great."

"Don't be nervous Niall, I'm gonna be fine." I tell him, everyone still walking on eggshells around me. "Tonight, the fans will be thrilled, and I'll be singing to Adelaide the whole time. I'm ready." I assure. 

"I trust you mate, doesn't mean it won't take a toll." He counters, fair enough.

"I know, but I've got you and Lou up there with me, I'm not alone. Actually, knowing that they'll have Adelaide watching, I'm like... well I don't know how to explain it exactly, but I'm like excited to know she'll be seeing me?" I laugh at myself, "does that even make sense?" I say, not realizing the prospect of her seeing me has made me begin to cry.

"Of course it does. Just picture her on the other side of that camera." Louis chimes in, walking into the room. 

"They're ready mate."

I nod at them both before bringing them in for a group hug. It's the first time we've sung in any form since we ended things, so tonight is big no matter what. I'm excited to be doing something good in all of this, I know Adelaide's proud. We navigate the backstage of the Hall easily, but not chatting with one another. The entire crew knows tonight is different. No silly jokes, or pranks. 

The entire crew, band, and production team get into a big circle in front of our main path to the stage. Jeff looks to me.

"Alright. We all know what we're here to do. Let's raise some money to help others dealing with this shit. Let's give them a good show, and let's all remember who we're really doing this for. She's just on the other side of that camera..." I look to and wink at Louis, thanking him for the reminder. "Let's show these assholes who they've messed with, and bring our girl home."

We all break from the circle and begin the rounds of individual hugs and well wishes for the show, but everyone leaves me alone. Instead, I steal away into a corner of backstage, and decide to pray.

"Adelaide, wherever you are, keep me strong up there. Give me the strength to get through this night, so I can get to you. Both of you. I love you both more than anything in this world, and I can't wait until the three of us get our happy ending. We'll be alright. I'll be seeing you soon baby."

I step back into the main concourse and find Niall and Louis who walk with me to the final entrance to stage. It's strange, most concerts I'm used to an energetic crowd, full of screams and chants, singing along to the cheeky playlists I carefully craft for each city. Tonight, there's no playlist. Instead, I worked with Molly to come up with some visuals, a mix of my favorite pictures with an of Addy, as well as text information for our hotline, as well as the donation link for all the charity proceeds. Molly and Addy had become so close working on things, I trusted everything she did tonight, knowing it would be what Addy wanted. There's some old merchandise, but for tonight only it's all going to charity. We made one shirt for the benefit, and it was really simple, tasteful but effective to still raise money for the cause. 

We also were able to run a few raffles with the Pleasing team for fans to win a self care day for themselves as well as have all those proceeds go to women's shelters, to donate self-care items for the women there. 

I know Adelaide would be so proud of what we've turned this night into. What was a manipulation tactic from her captors, is a night that's going to make a lot of positive change at the same time.