Adopted by Taylor Swift

Chapter 43: 2019 VMAs

August 26th, 2019
Taylor's Perspective

The lights go down. For a second, everything is completely dark.

I'm sitting in the audience between Harry and the kids, and I can feel my heart beating so hard that I'm pretty sure everyone around me can hear it.

Astrid is sitting on my left, her hair clipped back with two little sparkly clips.

Elijah is on Harry's other side, looking completely relaxed.

I don't understand how.

We're at the VMAs.
I'm about to open the show.
And he's sitting there like we're waiting for a movie to start.

"You nervous?" I whisper.
Elijah looks at me. "No."
"Not even a little?"
He shakes his head. "Why would I be?"
I laugh quietly.

Astrid leans toward me. "I'm nervous for you."
"Thanks."

She smiles.

Harry reaches over and squeezes my hand. "You've got this."

I take a breath. Then the opening video begins.

The crowd erupts, and I watch the screens as the introduction plays.

A few seconds later, the stage lights explode on.

And suddenly, I'm not sitting in the audience anymore.
I'm running.
Dancing.
Singing.

The first notes of "You Need to Calm Down" fill the Prudential Center.

The energy is insane.
The dancers move around me.
The lights flash.
The crowd screams every word back.
I can barely hear myself.
And then, somehow, it's over.

The transition into "Lover" feels completely different.

The stage becomes softer.
The lights change.
For a moment, everything slows down.

I look out into the audience.
I see Harry.
I see Astrid.
I see Elijah.

They're smiling. I smile back.

Then the performance ends. The applause is deafening.

I take one final breath before leaving the stage.

---

Back in my seat, I'm still trying to catch my breath.

Harry looks at me. "That was good."
I stare at him. "Good?"
He smiles. "Very good."

Astrid grabs my arm. "Mom!"
"What?"
"That was amazing!"
Elijah nods. "The dancing was cool."
I laugh. "Thank you."

Before I can say anything else, the next award begins.
Video of the Year.

John Travolta and Queen Latifah walk onto the stage.

I'm suddenly aware that my hands are shaking.

There are some incredible videos nominated.

I tell myself not to expect anything.

Don't think about it.
Don't hope.
Just enjoy the night.

John starts reading the nominees. Then comes the winner. He looks down at the card, and there's a moment where he seems slightly confused.

For half a second, it almost looks like he's about to hand the award to Jade Jolie.

The audience reacts.

I blink.

Then Queen Latifah steps in.

John corrects himself. "And the VMA goes to..." I hear the title. "You Need to Calm Down."
Everything stops.