Time; Don't Let It Slip Away

How You Love Me Now

I picked up my guitar and sat on the stool in front of the microphone, looking over the crowd. 

I was doing a benefit show for this local orphanage in uptown L.A. I decided, with the baby coming and all, it would be the perfect motherly thing to do.

I mean, I've never wanted a child of my own; I've always wanted to adopt, and help out a child who needs a family. 

I began to strum out the chords for 'Hey Jude' By the beatles on my acoustic, and then stopped, as the crowd roared.

"You know..." I spoke directly into the mic. "This is such a wonderful everyone is doing. Raising awareness for these orphans and all... I can honestly say, I never really wanted a child of my own. I always thought I wanted to adopt, and make a child in need's life a little better." I smiled down at my obviously large stomach. "But then, something changed... and now... I've got a little one on the way.."

The audience burst into screams and applause.

"I know, as a soon to be mother, and as a daughter that didn't know much about familial love at a young age, what it feels like to be distraught and alone. I'm going to make sure my child, and all of the children in this orphanage know what it's like to be loved. I'll try to make a visit here atleast once every week, whenever I'm in L.A. That's a promise." 

I said, as the crowd cheered, and I began to strum the chords for "Hey Jude" again.

As I finished the song, the audience applauded and I turned and set my guitar down on the stand next to me, then I slowly stood up, clinging onto the mic. 

I looked out into the crowd and noticed a girl in the front row who looked oddly familiar.

I looked to my right, at my guitarist Ryan, had a pained expression on his face. The girl was his girlfriend, Erika, and she was kissing some guy standing right next to her, and holding his hand. 

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"Hey.." I sat down next to Ryan on a small couch backstage. "Are you okay? I saw Erika in the crowd..."

"I mean... I just...." He paused, obviously upset. "I just don't get it. I treated her like a queen, and this is how she repays me?" 

"I'm so sorry, Ry." I sighed 

Just then, Erika came running back stage to see Ryan.

"Hey baby! You were so great! I just lo-"

"What? You love me? Is that what you were gonna say?" He asked, in horror. "I hate when you say how you love me, now! I don't want to hear your reasons... I don't want to hear your 'please-just-take-me-backs'. It's over, Erika. I don't stand for cheating." He snapped and then walked away.

I got up and followed him.

"Ry, I'm really proud of you." I smiled and hugged him. 

"Thanks, Mia. You're such an amazing friend." He said hugging me back. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I laid in bed that night, with my lyric notebook, scribbling down words and sentences, and ended up with a song, in honor of Ryan. 

I shot him a quick text; 

'Hey, Ry! I think we've got another song! Get the band together, and come over tomorrow around 11 a.m. We'll use the studio in our basement. - Mia.'

Moments later, he replied.

'Hey, Mia. Sure thing. See you then!'

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