priorities-2

24

It's the first concert I'm singing with Slasher in for over a week. I tap on hisdressing room door half an hour before we're expected on stage. His opening band canbe heard everywhere, but the room he changes in, is pretty soundproof, at least enoughto hold a conversation in.I'm dressed in a gown, and applied my makeup early. I knock on Slashers door andhe calls out, "Come in!"I open the door slowly and walk in, "You look beautiful," he says."Thank you!""Where did you take off to?" he asks."Florida, I needed to get away, speaking of," I hesitate."Speaking of," he encourages."I'm back with John," I admit."He treated you like shit," Slasher reminds me."He plays for Florida now, he bought a house with me in mind. He's asked me tomove in with him. He's not getting in the way of my singing, he said he won't stand inthe way of my singing, I can still do it if I want to, just like he assumes I would neverget in the way of his hockey.""Isn't that wonderful," his tone is filled with sarcasm."I promised him fidelity," I finish. "We're still married, seeing as I forgot to file fordivorce.""This just keeps getting better," Slasher sears."I can't see you ever being monogamous to me," I tell him the truth, he must knowI've considered it."You think John will be, you saw him with a girl who looked exactly like you," heargues."He put a ring on it," I point to my ring finger."I didn't know that's all it takes. I'll get you a bigger one! I brought you on tour,gave you your own financial independence and freedom, what's he done for you?" AsksSlasher."He loves me," I argue.

"And I don't," he fights back.We get called up to stage, taking it by storm. Slasher starts our duet, he literallysings his heart out. I struggle to find the emotion to match his, after, the crowd are ontheir feet. The lights go out and I disappear off stage like I always do, then the spotlightlands back on him.He doesn't start his next song which is unusual. He talks to the crowd, "It's withdeep regret, this will be my last concert with the amazingly and talented Rita! Everyonegive it up for Mya!" A stage hand pushes me out and I run onto stage and take a bow. Hejust terminated my job and our relationship in the most public forum of all, in front of alive audience, I can't believe it. As quickly as I'm discovered, I get knocked downbecause our relationship isn't going the way he wants it to. I'm furious but apparently it'smutual.I remain professional and stay for the rest of the concert, performing the last of ourscheduled songs before I pack my belongings and leave forever. His reaction is beyondharsh but I can't contemplate the fairness of it, because I'm subjectively in a state oftears right now. I knock on his door after the concert, "Come in," he calls out.I'm streaked with tears and speechless. He walks over to me and kisses medramatically on the lips, I quiver in response to the passion I feel, "I wanted us, to beyour idea not mine, for you to trust me, for that beautiful body of yours to belong to me,a relationship. I needed it to come from you, instead you go back in time to a guy thattook you for granted, treated you like garbage even when you were pregnant with hischild. You should have been treated like a queen, he should have supported you duringyour time of loss, instead he left you the second he could.""If you continue touring with me, and the two of you see each other onlyoccasionally, it will take you longer to realize how much of a jerk he is. I'm cutting youloose to be with him. Every time you go back to him it's wasted time we could havebeen together, he's going to hurt you over and over again."He holds his door open for me to walk out of his life. My hands are full of mybelongings, my heart feels hollow.