Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

26 -

The next morning, Ellie opened her eyes, her heart pounding with excitement. Today was the last concert before a long break, and even though she couldn't wait to be back home in Portland, a part of her knew she'd feel an emptiness, a lack of the energy that had fueled her throughout the tour. She got out of bed, grabbed an old grey sweatshirt and a loose pair of jeans, comfortable clothes she often wore during concerts. She knew there was no point in getting all dressed up. She'd be spending most of her time running from one end of the stage to the other, capturing the best moments.

Once she was ready, she made sure all her camera gear was in order: lenses, batteries, memory cards. A certain nervousness crept in. Daryl, the head photographer, had mentioned the night before that this concert would be especially important. The photos taken would be published to mark the break in the tour, and Ellie knew she had to be at her best.

She quickly joined the other crew members at the stadium where the concert was taking place. Technicians were already busy preparing the stage, adjusting the lights, checking the sound, while the first fans started to arrive and take their seats. Backstage, the atmosphere was both nervous and joyful. Everyone knew that tonight marked the end of a chapter before the well-deserved break.

Ellie easily found Daryl, surrounded by the photo team. They were all standing in a corner of the stadium for the final briefing. Daryl, always full of energy, addressed them with an encouraging smile:

Daryl: "Alright, guys, this is our last show before the break. I want you to give it your all tonight. This isn't just any concert, it's THE concert for this part of the tour, and the photos we take need to reflect that. The best ones will be published to mark the break, so no pressure, but make it count!"

Ellie felt her heart race. She loved the pressure, the excitement of capturing unique moments. That's what made her love her job so much—the adrenaline that built up just before everything started.

"Ellie," Daryl added, turning to her, "you've done an amazing job so far. Keep it up tonight, I'm sure you'll get some real gems for us."

"I'll do my best, promise," she replied with a smile, trying to hide the rush of adrenaline she was feeling.

Once the briefing was over, Ellie headed to her usual spot near the stage. She loved this place: it gave her a wide view, while still being close enough to capture Billie's expressions, her glances with the fans, and the most intense moments of the show.

The stadium quickly filled up, and the cheers from excited fans grew louder. Ellie adjusted her camera, double-checking the settings. She knew this concert would be special, the energy would be off the charts. The crowd was already buzzing before the music even started.

Then, the lights went out, plunging the stage into total darkness. A tense silence settled in, just before the audience erupted in cheers as Billie appeared on stage. She wore a dark outfit that contrasted beautifully with her black hair and blue eyes, which seemed to shine under the spotlights. From the first notes, she had everyone captivated.

Ellie lost herself in the rhythm of the concert, her camera clicking steadily. Every song was a moment to capture, every smile, every movement Billie made on stage became an opportunity to snap the raw emotion of the moment. Billie was, as always, incredible. She owned the stage, her voice resonating powerfully throughout the stadium, and her bright eyes seemed to light up the entire room.

The fans sang along in unison, some even shedding tears of emotion. Ellie tried to capture that, to seize the almost tangible connection between Billie and her audience. She moved closer to the edge of the stage, catching a moment when Billie reached her hand out to the crowd, the faces of the fans glowing with joy.

Every time Billie winked or made a subtle gesture, Ellie was there to capture it. She loved those moments when Billie showed a more vulnerable side, almost intimate, despite the thousands of people present. That's what made these concerts so special.

At the end of the show, after an explosive encore, the lights went out one last time, and the crowd, though exhausted, kept cheering. Ellie, out of breath herself, packed up her camera, satisfied with the work she'd done. She knew she had taken some great photos that night, images that would perfectly capture the essence of this unique concert.

After the concert, the entire crew gathered in a reserved room for a small celebration to mark the end of this first part of the tour. The atmosphere was relaxed, full of laughter and mutual congratulations. Ellie found Kate, who winked at her when she saw her arrive.

"So, how was it?" Kate asked, handing her a soda.

Ellie: "It was insane, Billie enchanted me again. And the energy from the crowd, it was wild."

Kate: "I totally saw that, the photos must be magic."

As Ellie and Kate continued talking, Daryl walked over to them, looking visibly pleased.

Daryl: "Ellie, I just wanted to congratulate you again," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did an amazing job throughout this tour. I can't wait to see what you'll give us next."

Ellie: "Thanks again, Daryl. I'm living a dream working with you all."

A little later, Finneas arrived, accompanied by their mom, Maggie. Finneas, as charismatic and relaxed as ever, quickly took the floor to give a short speech in front of the entire crew.

Finneas: "Hey everyone! I just want to say a huge thank you for this first part of the tour. You've all done an amazing job, we've managed to create something really special together. Enjoy this break and come back even stronger, keep that good energy, that's the most important thing, team!"

Applause and laughter filled the room. Maggie then took the floor, adding a few words about the importance of resting and recharging during the break.

A few moments later, Billie finally walked in, looking exhausted but smiling. She listened to her brother finish his speech before adding a few words of her own.

Billie: "I'm not gonna keep you long, my brother already told you how much we love you all. I couldn't have asked for a better team for this tour. We've made unforgettable memories, and I can't wait to start again after the break. Take care of yourselves, rest up, we'll see you in a month, stronger than ever."

After her speech, Billie walked up to Ellie, a tired but genuine smile on her face.

Billie leaned slightly toward Ellie: "So, ready for this little break?"

Ellie: "More than ready, but I already can't wait to see what comes next. What about you? Excited to go back to Los Angeles?"

Billie: "Don't even talk about it, I'm mostly excited to see Shark. We still need to organize that thing in Portland, right?"

She nodded, amused by Billie's tone.

Ellie: "I haven't forgotten, Livai already bought his three-piece suit to welcome Shark."

Billie smiled, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Their conversation continued for a while, full of laughter and camaraderie. Ellie always felt that strange sensation when talking to Billie, a mix of admiration and nervousness she couldn't explain.

Eventually, the time for goodbyes arrived. The entire crew said their goodbyes, each heading their own way, ready to enjoy the well-deserved break. Ellie felt a wave of melancholy wash over her as she said goodbye to her colleagues, but she knew these goodbyes were only temporary. In a month, everything would start again. And maybe, just maybe, she'd see Billie again sooner than expected.