The Tortured Poets Department

Clean

Alicia had sent me so many different options for a house, and I looked through them all on my flight to London. One caught my eye. It was close to the edge of the city, with two pools, a gym, and several big bedrooms. A bit over the top, but it looked nice inside and it was the vacation house I had been looking for. I could live there full time, there was even space for a recording studio in the basement.

I could live there.

Odette
The fifth one looks good, but maybe you could schedule a viewing for most of them? You know which ones I mean.

Alicia
I'll do my best, and I can send you the dates for when to look at them.

Odette
You truly are the best Alicia, and you are coming to the photoshoot with me, right?

Alicia
I wouldn't dare to do anything else!

London looked amazing. I saw it while I landed, and it was a big city. Not that I hadn't been here before. This spring I was here for two weekends while performing, but I barely had any time to look around. I could have stayed during the week, but I needed to visit my mother who was sick in cancer. She got declared healthy, and the cancer was gone. But it was difficult for me to be on tour and not able to help her with anything. I hired a live-in nurse for her, just to make sure that she survived, and I visited as often as I could.

I was happy that she was healthy now, it meant that I could live my life without worrying about her. I still worried about the cancer returning and spreading, but it was better now when the looming cloud was not over her head.

Alicia
A lot of papers want an interview with you about your sudden interest in football. Can you do one?

Odette
Girlie I know nothing about football, and it feels wrong.

Alicia
Totally get that Odette. I'll turn them down for you.

Odette
They are only interested in that because I started to attend games. In a few months they won't care anymore.

Alicia
Media can be annoying sometimes, but you know better than me about that.

Alicia
Have you landed yet?

Odette
I have. I am on my way to the hotel right now.

Alicia
There is a package waiting for you on the bed. Markus checked it out, so it is safe.

Great. Someone had sent me a package, which meant people knew where I was going to stay. Journalists would flood the place in no-time.

Mapi
My jersey is waiting for you in your hotel room. Now you have no excuse not to wear it on Friday.

Odette
You will see me looking stylish then Mapi.

Mapi
Better than you look in Alexia's jersey.

Odette
What would Alexia say if she saw that you wrote that?

Mapi
She doesn't mind. And she will never know. Keep this between us?

Odette
Always!

It was delightful to know that it was Mapi who had left the package, or she had someone leave it for her. The press did not know where I was, paparazzi would not storm the hotel, at least not for a couple of days.