Fragments of Us ⏩ Max Verstappen

4. Taking Control

Note: her newest album is based off of Taylor swifts Midnights. And her tour is based off of the Eras tour.

I stared at the screen in front of me, a fresh wave of determination coursing through my veins. The room around me was filled with the familiar comfort of my vacation home, but my mind was far from the tranquility of this place. I needed to act, to take control of my life, and there was no better way to do that than by diving headfirst into my music.

"Set up a video call with the management team," I told Holly, who was standing by the kitchen island, tapping furiously on her phone. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly nodded and began typing out messages.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

I nodded, a fierce resolve settling over me. "I need to do this, Holly. It's the only way I know how to move forward."

Within an hour, my team was gathered on a Zoom call, their faces filling the screen. There was a mixture of concern and curiosity in their eyes, and I could feel the weight of their expectations pressing down on me.

"Aria, it's good to see you," my manager, David, began, his voice cautious. "How are you holding up?"

"I've been better," I admitted, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "But I'm not here to talk about that. I have a plan, and I need your support."

David exchanged a quick glance with the others, his expression one of guarded optimism. "We're listening."

"I want to release a new album," I said, watching their reactions closely. "But not with new songs. I have tracks from my previous albums—songs that didn't make the final cut because they didn't fit the vibe or the album had to be kept within a certain limit."

"You want to release old songs?" Holly asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

"Not just old songs," I clarified, leaning forward. "I want to release an album called 'Midnights' with 13 tracks. Each song represents a sleepless night I've had over the past few years."

David's eyebrows shot up, and he glanced at the others before turning back to me. "That's an interesting concept, Aria. But why now?"

"Because it's real," I replied, my voice filled with conviction. "It's raw and honest, and I think it's what my fans need right now. It's what I need. And I want to go on tour to promote it."

A murmur of surprise ran through the team, and I could see the skepticism in their eyes. "A tour?" David echoed, his tone incredulous. "You haven't been on tour since before the pandemic."

"I know," I said, my heart pounding with anticipation. "But I think now is the perfect time. I want to do a year-long tour, all over the world. And I want to start in just a few weeks."

"Aria, that's ambitious," Holly interjected gently. "Planning a tour of that magnitude on such short notice—it will be very difficult ."

"Not if we put our minds to it," I countered, refusing to back down. "I need this. I need to focus on something positive, something that will help me heal. Please, help me make this happen."

The team exchanged worried glances, and I could see the doubt in their eyes. But there was also a flicker of hope, a glimmer of belief in the possibility of something extraordinary.

"We'll do our best," David finally said, his voice filled with reluctant agreement. "But Aria, you need to take care of yourself. Your family is worried about you. The drinking, the weight loss—it's concerning."

"I'm fine," I insisted, even though I knew it wasn't entirely true. "I can handle this."

"You need to stop drinking and start taking care of your body again," Holly added, her voice firm. "If you want this tour to happen, you have to be at your best."

"I understand," I said, nodding. "I'll do whatever it takes."

The call ended with tentative plans and cautious optimism. I knew the road ahead would be challenging, but I was determined to make it happen. My family's concern lingered in my mind, a reminder that I had to take care of myself if I wanted to succeed.

The next morning, a gentle knock on my bedroom door woke me from a fitful sleep. I groaned, pulling the covers over my head, but the knock came again, more insistent this time.

"Aria, it's time to get up," Noah's voice called through the door.

I reluctantly rolled out of bed, my body protesting with every movement. The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room as I shuffled to the door and opened it.

Noah stood there, his expression a mixture of concern and determination. "Come on, we're going for a run."

"A run?" I echoed, my voice incredulous. "I haven't run in months."

"Exactly," he replied, offering me a small smile. "You need to start getting back in shape for your tour."

I sighed, knowing he was right. "Fine. Let me get dressed."

We jogged along the winding paths that surrounded the property, the cool morning air invigorating despite my lack of energy. As we ran, Noah kept pace with me, his presence a comforting anchor in the sea of uncertainty.

"Aria, I'm worried about you," he said after a while, his tone gentle. "You've been through a lot, and I don't want you to push yourself too hard."

"I have to do this, Noah," I replied, my breath coming in short gasps. "It's the only way I know how to move forward."

"I get that," he said, glancing at me with a mixture of pride and concern. "But you need to take care of yourself too. You can't pour from an empty cup."

"I know," I said, my voice softer now. "I'll try, I promise."

We finished our run and walked back to the house, the conversation lingering in the air between us. I knew I had a long road ahead, but with my family's support and my newfound determination, I felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As I stood on the porch, watching the waves crash against the shore, I took a deep breath and let the salty breeze fill my lungs. The path to healing was uncertain, but I was ready to take the first step. And with every beat of my heart, I knew that I was moving closer to reclaiming my life and my music.

---

As I looked out at the ocean, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. My heart was still heavy with sorrow, but for the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of hope. With my family by my side and a new purpose driving me forward, I knew that I could face whatever the future held.

And as I took a deep breath, I silently vowed to make this tour the start of something new—a journey of healing, of rediscovery, and of reclaiming the life that had once felt so out of reach.

Note: please comment your thoughts guys. I'm really excited to hear what everyone thinks.🫶🏻