Du Nord: The Believing heart lost years (EN)

Troubles in Italy

Monday 24th July 2006, Milan, Italy

"We were doing very well on the tour of Europe, people were clapping, I was signing lots of T-shirts, it was always very busy, we had full houses very easily, which I realised was breaking the bubble, I wasn't just a success in the UK, the continent knew me too and it was about to become a worldwide success because of that, The performances were marvellous, but one of them was making Croix very apprehensive, although in the days that passed she knew she wouldn't be noticed, the fear still consumed her, since we were approaching Italy, getting very close to her hometown, which could spring some unpleasant surprises."

Wow, we got here so fast, we've barely left Vienna and we're already here, I didn't even realise, I slept the whole way, I look around and we're already on the outskirts, what I see is Croix just glued to the window, as if some monster was on the other side, I quickly prepare a chocolate milk for her and one for me, I hand a mug to my girlfriend and I drink one, while we watch the landscape.

"I never thought I'd go back to this place, to this country, my fear of seeing them in a certain way has returned" Poor thing, I know it must be very hard for her to face that.

"They won't, I'm sure of it, as you said we're even in another city, the chance of them seeing you here is very small, I'm here with you love, we're together, no one will shake you" I say holding Meridies' hand, which makes her less nervous.

"I really hope you're right about this, because it would be a huge trigger if they turned up, I don't know how I'd react, I'd be a coward, I'd run away and be scared, I still have some traumas related to them, the hostile reaction I always got from my parents..." I keep caressing her my cute girlfriend.

"I understand you completely, I was very tense when we passed through France, I even had to lie about my father being a good person, but it's a completely different story, apart from the fact that your parents can't take you, you're almost 18 and you're legally Mrs Jordan's daughter" I'll try to comfort you, with all the love I can give in this world.

She's keeping a little quiet, but I can see that she's calming down a little, it can't be easy to deal with a situation like this, I don't really know what it must be like, but I wouldn't like it very much either, for her it must be a series of things falling and falling, well let's take the time to eat and rest, Wednesday I'm going to start doing the shows here in Italy, there will be two of them, one here in Milan and the other in Rome, I'll try not to sleep this time just to see the scenery when I'm on the bus.
I grab a few more things to eat and rest too, we've arrived in the morning and so far Alan hasn't appeared, which is just as well, I'm sure he's enjoying his time at his marvellous hotel.

[...]

It's afternoon, it's good that Croix has calmed down a bit by playing, I decided not to rehearse for now to help my girlfriend's head, who had already done a good job of publicising me on social media, I don't understand much, but I know that this was one of the things that helped boost my career.
We hear a noise from the door, I'm sure it's Alan who's finally shown up, he looks at us and he's going to give me a job for now I'm sure, just by the boxes I can tell, and off we go having to sign t-shirts, I even roll my eyes and stop playing.

"Very well, we've arrived in Italy, now we're going to start making preparations to start marketing here, I've made special editions of your presentation of Italy at Croix's request, for today it's an exclusive day where you'll be able to get autographs and we're going to make a point of taking the four eyes with you, she's our Italian, just give this girl a makeover, make her look more decent, dressing like this weird nerd will scare away the clientele" Said my manager.

"What if I don't want to? I shouldn't be forced to do what I don't want to" said my girlfriend.

"You won't, simple, the extra money I pay you for all this service you do is vital for our progress, besides if you want to create a better image for your girlfriend I think it's better to participate, or do you want to harm her because of your narcissistic desires? Then I think you should dress more decently, I don't know what Shiny Chariot saw in you, I'm sure it must be your money or something else, because I don't understand, I would never go out with a woman like you" said Alan as he left and I saw only Croix clenching his fists and banging on the table.