Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
With each step deeper into the backstage I felt my heart growing heavy. My eyes darted around quickly trying to take in as much as possible. It felt like a dream come true, walking among the crew as they packed up for the evening, storing everything for the second show tomorrow as they spoke of the performance. I followed closely behind the person that had come to get me, as we made a slight turn to the left, to get behind the stage fully. I clutched around the gift I had been given just a bit tighter as we took a couple of steps on top of the back side of the stage, my boots hitting heavily against the metal stairs.
Even though I had stood first row for the entire day, somehow the stage looked even bigger than it did before. I inhaled sharply as I saw Richard's back come into view as he spoke to some of the crew before giving them both a hug. The crew member who was leading me cleared his throat before speaking.
"Richard," he said simply, once again in the German way of pronouncing his name. The guitarist turned around to meet him,
"Ja?" he asked as his eyes quickly bounced from the crew member to me, "Danke Louise," Richard patted him on the shoulder as he smiled and took a step closer. "Du hast ihr kein Handtuch gegeben?" he asked while looking me up and down, "Holen Sie sich bitte eins," he politely demanded before meeting my gaze once more. "Das tut mir leid," he said with an awkward smile.
"Oh, keine Sorge," I spoke softly, completely starstruck as Richard stood in front of me. Just me. He still wore his stage outfit, but his demeanor was much more relaxed as he smiled before he spoke once more.
"Ist es für Sie in Ordnung, weiterhin Deutsch zu sprechen?" he asked but didn't give me time to respond as he continued, "Or do you prefer English?" he asked in English, his language switching effortlessly as his eyes looked at me a bit more intense than before. Right that moment Louise returned as he handed me a small black towel before bolting off underneath the stage once more, clearly in a hurry.
"Danke," I smiled as I got handed the soft fabric that I used to wipe my clothes and face clean the best I could while replying to Richard. "Maybe English will be easier for the both of us," I laughed awkwardly, "that way I won't make stupid mistakes," I smiled while going through my hair with the towel.
"Sure, no worries," he smiled. "Hi, by the way," he laughed as he stuck his hand out to me, and I accepted it without thinking twice about it.
"Yeah, hi--" I breathed awkwardly, shortly biting my teeth, "I'm so sorry, this is all a bit overwhelming," I admitted as my eyes looked around me once more, seeing Flake briefly before he went under the stage. Richard followed my gaze and quickly understood that the busyness around us was indeed a bit much for someone who wasn't used to it.
"Do you want to find a quieter spot to talk?" he asked and I gladly accepted. Richard led me away from the main area, weaving between trailers and parked equipment trucks. "The show was incredible, by the way," I manage to say as we walked.
