Just for Tonight

19.

Ville waved to the audience and went backstage. Chloe wasn't there. He waited a while, searched the changing rooms, but she wasn't there. He headed for the ladies' toilets and hesitated for a moment.

He called softly: "Honey? Are you in there?"

There was no answer. He opened the door. She was there, on the floor, unconscious. He screamed and tried to wake her up. Seppo came running.

"Ville, what is it?"

"Chloe's fainted," he said, stepping aside so that Seppo could get in and see her. "Call an ambulance!"

The paramedics arrived within five minutes and took charge of her. They woke her up and sat her down.

"How do you feel, ma'am?" a carer asked her.

"I... I can't move. I'm trying but I can't," she said, disorientated.

" Can you explain ?" the carer asked again.

"I want to get up, but I can't. It's as if my body doesn't respond to my head", she tried to explain. 

Ville looked at her. No one seemed to notice his presence and he felt useless.

"Honey, talk to me", he softly said.

" Ville, what's wrong with me?" she begged.

"I don't know...", he sighed. " Did you... Did you drink ?" he asked.

" Are you under the influence of drugs or alcohol?" the paramedic asked.

" No, no !" she exclaimed and she tried to reach Ville's hand. "I swear, beautiful", she whispered. He squeezed her hand.

" We take her to the nearest hospital.", the carer said to Ville. " You can accompany her in the ambulance".

Mad with worry, Ville climbed into the ambulance and refused to let go of Chloe's hand. At the hospital, while she underwent the first examinations and was attended to by a doctor, he was joined by Seppo and the guys.

"What's happened ? ", Migé asked with concern.

"I don't know", Ville said. "I found her passed out. She swears she didn't take anything. Now we have to wait for the doctor."

He walked back and forth in the waiting room, unable to calm down.

It was after midnight when the doctor spoke to them.

"She's severely dehydrated and has a lot of vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. She is stressed out. Above all, she's exhausted. That's what we call burn-out", he stated.

"Does that explain why she fainted?" asked Seppo.

"Yes, it does. Because she didn't listen to her body's signals, it was her mind that disconnected itself, to protect her. That's why she couldn't move. We're currently rehydrating her. I understand you're on tour... But we're going to keep her under observation for a few days. She'll also be seeing a psychologist. I recommend that she then is transferred to a nursing home in Helsinki. "

" Helsinki ! ", Ville exclaimed, tears on the edge of his eyes.

" If it's what's best for her, you have to accept it, kiddo", Seppo patted him on the shoulder. " The bus will be here soon to pick us up, we have to be in France by 10am tomorrow, son. "

" I... I... Can't do that without her, Sepp... Can't we cancel ?" Ville sobbed.

"  I'm sorry, but no", Seppo sighed.

" You have to be strong for her, Dude", Migé  pointed out.

" It's difficult for all of us", Linde noticed.

" Can I see her ? ", Ville asked.

" Wipe away your tears so as not to stress her further.", the doctor said. "One person at a time".

"Ville, go first", Burton mentionned. "She needs you, now"

Ville entered her room. He saw her, so pale and frail, in a bed. She had an IV in her arm.

" Hello my sweet honey", Ville began. " This morning you wanted to sleep so badly... I didn't think it would be in the bathroom...", he tried to make her smile.

"Oh Ville ! They want me to stop the tour and go back to Helsinki", she cried.

He rushed to her bed and kissed her on the forehead.

"I know little honey. You need it. You have to rest and take care of yourself. If you do everything right, you'll be soon next to me. I swear it.", Ville tried to reassure her.

"I don't want to leave you... And the guys... And everything...", she sobbed.

He felt the tears coming.

"I don't want to leave you either, my love. But you have to take care of yourself.", he murmured, his voice broken by emotion. "The boys want to say goodbye... We'll have to go now, darling, the bus is waiting."

"Don't... Don't leave me alone... Please Ville, please love !", she fell into tears.

" I will call you every day. Chloe, never forget our love. How much I love you", Ville said, tears falling on his lips.

Seppo entered the room. He had packed Chloe's belongings from the bus into a large bag and set it down for her. He kissed her on the cheek. "Forgive me if I've sometimes been hard on you, my girl. Take care of yourself."

Ville hugged Chloe and whispered his love to her again. Seppo took him gently by the arm and they left the room.

One by one, Migé, Burton, Linde and Gas came to say goodbye.

Seppo and the gang boarded the bus, leaving their sixth member behind. The separation had been sudden, brutal and violent for all of them. Ville let his tears flow freely, his heart broken. He sent her a message: "Above all, don't think that I'm abandoning you!".

Meanwhile, Chloe drifted off into a dreamless sleep, induced by the drugs the doctor had given her.