Remember My Dreams

34. Last evening at home

It was the night before the Humanoid tour, and tension filled the air. Bill, Tom, and I had decided to spend one more night at Simone and Gordon's house, Bill and Tom's parents. Simone was the one who suffered the most from her sons being away for so long, so we all thought it was a good idea to stay with her. It was a chance to cherish the last moments of peace and home before the frenzy of the tour would begin.
Along with our group, I had also brought Maü, my now fully grown cat. Leaving him alone at home for so long was unthinkable. Simone had offered to take care of him while we were away, an offer I was deeply grateful for. Gordon was less enthusiastic about the idea of a cat and litter box in the house, but Simone's resolve left little room for argument.

Gently, I lifted Maü out of his travel bag. He had grown so much, his black coat shining in the soft light of the living room. He stretched, his little paws trembling with excitement, and immediately began exploring the house. To my surprise, he went straight to Simone and started purring against her legs. It was as if he had always lived here, and that reassured me.
"It seems he feels right at home," Simone said with a smile, bending down to pet Maü.
"Thank goodness," I replied. "I really couldn't leave him alone for so long."
Gordon watched, his face a mix of resignation and mild irritation. "As long as he doesn't leave hair everywhere," he mumbled, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

Bill and Tom were in the living room, going over the final details for the tour. Their voices, a blend of excitement and responsibility, filled the house. Bill's voice had always had a calming effect on me, even in the most stressful situations. His eyes sparkled whenever he talked about the upcoming concerts, and I could hear the passion in his tone. Tom, on the other hand, was as always practical and focused, his mind entirely set on logistics and the technical aspects of the shows.
Simone was in the kitchen, preparing one of her famous dinners for us. The smell of freshly baked bread and stewed vegetables filled the house, bringing a sense of warmth and home with it.
"Elise, would you mind helping me in the kitchen?" Simone called out.
I walked to the kitchen and found Simone at the stove, stirring a large pot of soup. "Of course, what can I do?" I asked, putting on an apron.
"Could you set the table? And maybe keep an eye on Maü. I don't want him getting too curious and falling into the soup," she laughed.
Smiling, I gathered the plates and cutlery and started setting the table. It was a simple task, but it felt good to contribute something. While I was busy, I glanced lovingly at Bill, realizing once more how lucky I was to care for him so deeply.
When the table was set and dinner was ready, we all gathered in the dining room. Simone served the meal with a proud smile, and we sat down together. The conversation at the table was lively, filled with stories of previous tours and plans for the coming months. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, despite the underlying tension of the imminent goodbye.
After dinner, Simone placed a pot of tea on the table. The warmth of the tea, and the presence of friends and family, made the worries of the upcoming tour feel a bit more bearable. Simone looked at her sons with a mixture of pride and sadness. "I'm going to miss you both so much," she said softly, her voice trembling.
Bill placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll miss you too, Mom. But it's going to be amazing. We're going to make so many people happy with our music."
Tom nodded in agreement. "And before you know it, we'll be back."

The evening drifted by in a warm atmosphere of shared memories and laughter. We talked about the past, about the boys' first performances, and how far they'd come. Simone's eyes sparkled as she spoke of their youth, and even Gordon couldn't suppress a smile at the memory of some of the brothers' mischievous pranks.
Simone sat close to Gordon, her hand tightly in his, listening to her sons' stories of adventure. I felt part of a family, a feeling I hadn't truly felt since my own childhood.
Meanwhile, Maü had found his place on the couch, curled up into a small, fluffy ball, purring contentedly. His presence brought a feeling of home and normalcy into the room, a small part of my life I could leave here while we ventured out into the world.

When it was time for bed, we embraced each other and wished each other a good night's rest. Simone held me tightly for a moment and whispered, "Thank you, Elise, for everything. It means so much to me that you're here."
I smiled and nodded. "It's my pleasure, Simone. There's nowhere else I'd rather be right now."

The night had fallen, and I lay next to Bill on his old bed in his attic room. The room was just as I remembered it: posters of their favorite bands on the walls, an old guitar in the corner, and the familiar scent of incense he always used. Despite our heartfelt goodbyes, sleep evaded me. My thoughts swirled in my head like a whirlpool.
Bill noticed my restless movement and placed a hand on my back. "Can't sleep, my love?" he whispered softly. I turned around so I could look at him in the gentle light of the moon filtering through the skylight.
"Our CD is coming out tomorrow," I whispered back. "And I'm so nervous. Bill, what if it's a flop?"
A smile spread across his face. "Oh, Elise, are you really worried about that?" he said reassuringly. "You and Bas did a fantastic job. Your CD is going to be a hit, I'm sure of it."
I lowered my gaze, wrestling with my insecurities. I wanted so much to believe him, but the fear of failure held me captive. Bill sensed my hesitation and gently tilted my chin up so I could look directly into his eyes.
"Elise, seriously," he said with a determined look. "It's your first CD; don't put too much pressure on yourself. Our first album didn't sell well at all," he continued. "And look at us now."
His words gave me some comfort. I smiled back at him, maybe I was indeed putting too much pressure on myself. Maybe I just needed to let it all happen, like all the shows that were planned for us.
I squeezed his hand lightly and felt a warm glow of affection. "Bill, I love you," I said, my voice soft and full of emotion.
He pulled me closer, and I felt his heartbeat against my chest. "I love you too, Elise. Everything is going to be okay, I promise."