FROM A LOVER'S POINT OF VIEW

1

CHAPTER ONE: HOW TO DISAPPEAR

"YEAH, YEAH, Heidi. That sounds amazing, yeah. Thanks for setting that up, I'll see you tonighttttt." Her tone was enthusiastic, but her body language said otherwise. She stared outside her apartment window, her shoulders hunched over her small frame, taking in the perfect view of Nashville's skyline. Her bleached, bottle baby blonde hair was left unbound to tumble down her shoulders and back. She hung up the phone, chucking it on the couch. Letting out a loud groan, the young woman grabbed the bottle of tequila from the coffee table and threw it back. The alcohol burned the back of her throat, making her scrunch her nose and squint her eyes.

There was no shot she was making it to her gig tonight.

She stumbled into her bedroom, pulling out her suitcase and heaving it onto her bed. She started throwing clothes inside, not paying much attention to what in particular. Her uber would be here in 15 minutes, she'd scheduled it ahead of time. And she would be on her very merry way to BNA in no time.

She felt the bottle of Hornitos staring a hole in her back, and without hesitation she spun around and held out her hand towards the glass bottle--her hands extending and wrapping around--taking another chug.

"I'd never abandon you." She slurred, chuckling to herself. "But I can't bring you! You have to—you have to watch the place while I'm gone!"

The ringer had been left on her phone, the alert playing from the other room to remind her that her driver was 5 minutes away. It was like a blur, leaving her apartment, taking the elevator, getting in the backseat of the car. Going through TSA, stopping at a bar, almost missing her boarding call for her flight. She passed out in her first-class seat on the plane, only after asking the flight attendant for a drink—but wanting it double. She was snoring before the flight attendant could even set it down on her tray table.

Ʊ Ʊ Ʊ

"Good evening, folks. We're just about to touch down in Bozeman, Montana. The time here is 5:48 pm, UTC. It's 89 degrees, a little cooler here today than what seems to be the usual. Attendants, please prepare for landing." The ding brought her to consciousness. There was existential dread weighing down in her chest as she felt her phone vibrating relentlessly under her ass. She grumbled, careful not to elbow the businessman next to her, reaching under her butt to grab her phone.

There were about a million-and-one text messages on her lock screen. A deviant smile grew upon her face as her vision started to clear.

HEIDI (MANAGER)

Sivi Swayze Goodrich!

HEIDI (MANAGER)

Where tf are you??????

HEIDI (MANAGER)

You're supposed to be performing now??

HEIDI (MANAGER)

I can't believe you

HEIDI (MANAGER)

Not even a heads up? I really appreciate it.

HEIDI (MANAGER)

It's your career. I'm doing my job, even when you can't even do yours.

HEIDI (MANAGER)