The Tortured Poets Department

Cruel Summer

The next day was spent trying countless of poses in extravagant clothes. They wanted pictures of me from every angle, and it was so annoying. A busy day. I left the hotel at six am, without any breakfast or makeup. All that was fixed at the place of the shoot. Breakfast while the day was discussed, and then several people worked on getting my hair and makeup fixed.

I arrived back at the hotel long after midnight, falling asleep as soon my head hit the pillow, not bothering to do any skincare. After the shoot they wanted dinner with me to work on a small interview. I couldn't do anything else than to agree, Alicia wanted me to do it and it would be good for me.

When I checked my phone the next morning, it was three in the afternoon. That was not a morning. There were several texts and missed calls from Mapi. This concerned me. Why would she call me now? They were supposed to be in training today, and the amounts of texts and calls were enough to alert me that something had happened.

It was the fifth of July, twenty-twenty-two. My phone was blowing up, but Alexia had been quiet apart from the good morning text. She always texted me when practice was over, which it seemed to be based on everything from Mapi.

15 missed calls

Mapi
Can you answer my calls?

Mapi
Odette?

Mapi
You should visit Alexia.

Mapi
She needs you.

Mapi
Please?

13 missed calls

Mapi
Alexia is in the hospital.

Mapi
Odette she needs you.

Mapi
They think she has done her knee.

5 missed calls

Mapi
This is low Odette.

30 missed calls

Mapi
Fine I don't care. Don't text me some bad excuse.

Odette
I am so sorry I didn't answer. I had a long day yesterday, getting back around four in the morning after being up since before six. It probably sounds like some lame excuse, but I was honestly asleep. Text me where she is, which room number, and I will be there in less than two hours. I hope you both can forgive me.

Mapi
Milton Keynes University Hospital. I'll meet you outside the ER.

Odette
I'm in the car. Do you maybe have a change of clothes and some makeup? I am in my pyjamas, just woken up. I'll be there in 90 minutes, the time a football game take.

The one day I decided to sleep in was the day Alexia got injured. This was so low of me. I should text Alexia. Mapi said she needed my support, and I would be there for her. I needed to be there for her.

Odette
I heard that you got injured. I am so sorry for not answering earlier. You are probably not on your phone right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if you ignore every text. I would have done the same Alexia. I just wanted to tell you that I am on my way. I want to be there for you!

Odette
Get well Alexia!!

No answer arrived before I got to the hospital. Not that I expected it from her. She had been through something incredibly traumatising. Being on her phone was the last thing I would do if I was in her situation.

Mapi met me outside the hospital, hurriedly showing me inside, saying that she had to go back to the team's hotel. She said that Jorge would be mad at her if she didn't get back soon, not that he wasn't already.