Dreams Can Come True

59. I'm sorry..

Elise stared at the wall in front of her, her thoughts seeming distant. Her gaze was fixed on a point in the distance, as if deeply pondering something that preoccupied her mind. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to break her silence.
"Elise, is everything okay?" I asked cautiously, my voice a whisper in the quiet morning room.
She seemed to awaken from her reverie, slowly turning her head towards me. Her eyes met mine, but they seemed to be somewhere else, lost in thoughts she hadn't yet voiced.
"Bill..." she began, her voice softly trembling. "I got a call from Paul yesterday."
My heart skipped a beat. Paul was their manager, and calls from him could mean both good and bad news. I looked at Elise, waiting anxiously for what she would say.
"Paul sent some samples of our music to various record labels," she continued slowly. "And... we've been offered a contract to release our own album."
A wave of excitement surged through me at these words. It was every artist's dream come true, a validation of her musical journey so far. But as I looked at Elise, I saw no sparkle of joy in her eyes that I had expected.
"Wow, Elise, that's fantastic news!" I exclaimed, barely suppressing my enthusiasm. "I remember how excited I was when we got our first contract," I continued.
I took her hand, my fingers intertwined with hers, and looked at her hopefully. But instead of the joy I had anticipated, my gaze met a mixture of emotions on her face. There was something bothering her, something she didn't immediately want to share.
"But... what's wrong?" I asked, my voice softer now, concerned about what she might say.
Elise sighed deeply and lowered her eyes to her hands, still clasped in mine. Her lips trembled slightly as she spoke further.
"The CD is set to be released on February 21st," she told me, her voice almost a whisper. "The day before we leave on tour."
The meaning of her words slowly seeped into my thoughts. February 21st. The day before the tour. That meant we would have to prepare for a hectic period of hard work and intense preparations, with little room for breathing.
I looked at her understandingly. "That means you can't come to South Africa, right?" I asked, the realization of the situation sinking in.
She nodded slowly, a quiet confirmation of what I already suspected. My heart clenched at the thought that our planned trip together wouldn't happen, but I understood the necessity of it. Ultimately, I would also have to spend a lot of time on set in South Africa to shoot our music video.
"Don't worry, Elise," I said gently, my thumb stroking her hand softly. "This is a huge milestone for your career. And for us together. You need to stay here to make this album."
A smile slowly appeared on her face, a glimpse of the joy I had missed so much. I knew she was disappointed, but I hoped she could see how important this was for both of us.
"When are you leaving exactly?" she asked, her voice softer now, with a hint of sadness.
"Next Wednesday," I replied, holding her hand firmly. "But we still have some time to spend together before I leave." I saw her thinking, her thoughts undoubtedly on her new apartment, which we were going to get the keys for on Monday.
I held her tighter and whispered in her ear, "Then we have plenty of time to christen your apartment first." A soft giggle escaped her lips at my words.

The sun shone brightly through the car windows as we drove down the highway later that day, on our way to the next interview for our new album. I sat behind the wheel, my hand gripping the gear shift firmly as the wind tousled my hair. Tom sat beside me, his gaze fixed on the road as he occasionally glanced at his phone.
I felt relieved that my morning hangover had completely disappeared, replaced by a renewed energy and determination. I was ready to do my job, to represent our band and show the world what we were made of.
Tom looked at me, a questioning look in his eyes. "So Elise isn't coming?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
I shook my head, a sigh of disappointment escaping my lips. "No," I replied, a hint of regret in my voice. "But I'm incredibly happy for her and Bas. It's a huge opportunity for both of them."
Tom nodded understandingly, but his mischievous smile betrayed his thoughts. "Let's hope she still notices you when she becomes famous," he teased, his eyes twinkling with playfulness.
I rolled my eyes and gave him a playful punch on the arm. "Hey," I protested, but couldn't suppress a laugh. Tom's humor was always welcome, even in moments of concern and doubt. He laughed and turned his gaze back outside, where the vast horizon stretched out before us.