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The hallway felt longer than I remembered.
Each step back toward her felt like peeling away a layer I'd spent months trying to rebuild. My breath caught somewhere between my ribs and my throat. I could hear laughter, voices, doors opening and closing. A bottle of champagne popped down the hall and someone whooped loud enough to rattle the ceiling tiles.
Kelly walked just ahead of me, like she knew I needed her to clear the path—but not too far, just close enough in case I lost my nerve.
We passed dancers, stylists, band members, security. Everyone glowing from the high of the show. And then—
We reached the room.
Kelly glanced back, gave me the tiniest nod.
And I saw her.
Beyoncé.
Standing near the back of the room, her hat off now, curls damp with sweat, skin glowing. She was hugging someone, laughing, holding a glass of something bubbly—but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Even in her own spotlight, she looked... tired.
And then she turned.
And saw me.
Everything in the room slowed. The laughter, the music, the celebration—it all faded, like someone pulled the plug on the world's volume.
Her eyes locked onto mine. Unblinking.
I couldn't breathe.
For a second, she didn't move. She didn't smile. She just looked.
And in that look, there were months of silence. Of what-ifs. Of unanswered texts and things we never said out loud.
She set the glass down without looking away.
Took one slow step.
Then another.
My feet stayed planted. My heart didn't.
When she stopped just a breath away, I couldn't speak. Couldn't blink.
"Hey," she said, barely more than a whisper.
"Hey," I managed back.
There were a hundred things I wanted to say. I missed you. I'm sorry. You look tired. You look amazing. I love you. I'm still here.
But all I could do was look at her and hope she saw it in my eyes.
Beyoncé swallowed hard, eyes soft. "You came."
"I did."
Silence again. Not awkward—just full.
Her gaze moved to the handful of people who'd filtered back into the room without us noticing. Solange, Blue, a stylist, two dancers, someone from the tour team.
