Just for Tonight

57

Part 4

Two years later

A ray of sunlight illuminated the room and Ville woke up. Without opening his eyes, he stretched out his arm on the pillow beside him. All he found was the void. He sat up in bed, lost in thought. How had it come to this? Like every morning, images collided in his mind, memories, events that struggled to find their rightful place in this puzzle - or rather nightmare - in which he now lived. What had happened? At what point had things gotten out of hand? And above all, where was Chloe? He closed his eyes again and tried to remember.

Two years earlier

"Recreate HIM, really, Beautiful?", she asked him softly, not daring to believe it.

Deep down, it was what she had wanted, without ever openly expressing her opinion on the matter. Ville was more than capable of advancing his career on his own, and achieving the success he deserved, she had no doubt about that. He was brilliant, talented. But by observing Migé, Burton, Linde and Gas, she also understood that they had grown and evolved in their approach to music and their role within a band. Ville needed loyal, committed musicians. Who better to support him than his childhood friends?

"I've vaguely mentioned it to Migé, apparently the others would be rather keen...", he murmured as if to himself.

Chloe smiled tenderly, nestling against him. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you." Her arms went around him, and Ville felt, in that simple gesture, total approval, unfailing support.

Two years later

Chloe awoke with a jolt. Once again, she had dreamt of him, and the early hours of the morning caught her with tears streaming down her cheeks. Had she made the right decision? She tried to pinpoint a precise moment when he had told her he wanted to reform HIM.

Two years earlier.

"So, what did they say?" , she greeted him cheerfully.

"They said yes, honey! A real big yes, from the bottom of the heart!" ,he exclaimed, laughing.

She felt a soft warmth wash over her as she saw his face light up with happiness. "Did they accept the conditions? All of them?", she asked with curiosity mixed with concern. She knew how much every detail meant to him.

Ville nodded, his smile transforming into an expression of intense relief.

"Absolutely! We won't make the same mistakes again."

He smiled, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride and hope. The meeting had gone well, this was the first serious discussion between him and the guys in years, on a professional level, and he was finally feeling a breath of fresh air.

Chloe nodded, resuming in a soft but firm voice: "So, lyrics and musical composition by Ville Valo. They remain your musicians on the album and the tour that will follow. Clear communication and, in the case of conflict, a sympathetic ear for everyone. And above all," she paused, her gaze locked in his, "you remain a family, no matter what."

"That's right, honey", he said, pulling her into his arms. He knew she'd be uncompromising on that last part.

She buried her head in his chest, This moment was perfect.

----

Still lying in bed, in a desperate attempt to understand when the situation had slipped through his fingers, Ville also remembered when their relationship had started to slip away. Their home had quickly become a buzzing beehive. When the guys and Ville weren't rehearsing, it was Chloé's publisher who came over to discuss the promotion of her book. After that, sales quickly exceeded their expectations, and journalists, curious to find out more about the contents, streamed into the large living room. She preferred to receive them at home, which allowed her to be close to Ville and the boys.

18 months earlier

Ville was discreetly attending an interview. Chloe spotted him and gave him a slight smile.

"Chloe, aren't you afraid, with your book, of attracting the ire of the media in general? ", the journalist asked.

"I don't think I've made an accusation against contemporary journalism. Rather, I've highlighted the issues that every journalist must now face: media funding, the reality of social networks, where information circulates very or too quickly - and therefore, badly -, and now, the arrival of artificial intelligence."

"Do you really believe in the existence of a media free of misinformation?".

"I'm a natural optimist, utopian even. So yes, I believe in it, but it's a long-term job of course. With this book, I'm simply trying to raise people's awareness - ordinary readers, students or journalists - and, as you know, awareness is the first key to in-depth change." Smiling, she concluded the interview.

Looking back, he was suddenly aware of the first mistake, the one that had unknowingly set everything in motion. He should have waited before reforming the group. She had just finished her book, this moment should have belonged to her. It should have been hers and hers alone. But he'd been too quick, too greedy. The happiness he'd felt at the time had given him wings. As a couple, united as never before, they could manage everything at once. Or so he'd thought.

Then, the University of Helsinki had invited Chloe to speak to the journalism students about her book. What was supposed to be a one-off lecture had quickly turned into a series of educational events and workshops. Memories raced through his mind, and a dull ache settled in his chest. He saw again that moment when, absorbed in rehearsals and recordings, he had let himself be devoured by his own ambition, blind to what really mattered.