PTX One Shots

Light In the Hallway

I woke up to the loud ringing of my cell phone. I look at the time, 4:28 upset that I had to be up for rehearsals in six hours.

  "Hello?" A sniffle was the only reply. "Lauren, is everything okay?" I asked, suddenly more awake.

  "Scotty, i-it's L-Landon. It's h-happening again." my sister replied.

I closed my eyes, trying to hold back  tears.

 'No, why is this happening now. Always when I am away.'

So when my nephew, Landon, was born, I took a little break to be there for Lauren and to meet the new member of the family. I was the first to hold him after Lauren. Even before her own husband. Anyways, when he turned a year old, he would have nightmares. Nothing too bad, just enough to frighten him. I would pick him up and sing to him. But when I had to leave home, Landon had no one to sing the nightmares away. Lauren and the family tried calming him, but it didn't work as well. As the months go by the nightmares were less frequent, but more frightening. Lauren would result in calling me to sing to the small child to calm him down, which did work, but not as efficiently as it would if I was there with him.

  "I wish you were home. You were always his favorite." She let out a light chuckle. "Will you-" Lauren was cut off by a loud cry.

  "It's okay honey. Mommy's here." I heard Lauren say to Landon in a comforting tone.

Tears start to travel down my cheeks as I listen to him scream and cry while his mother tries to comfort him.

  "Landon, here's Uncle Scotty."

His cries slowly turn to soft whimpers as I sang Song of the Sea. When Landon stopped crying and fell back asleep, I said my good nights to Lauren and let her know I'm always there for her.

I set my phone down and tried not to wake Mitch up with my sobs. I soon fall asleep from exhaustion.

  "Scott...Scotty, are you okay?" Someone asked as they rubbed my arm comfortingly.

I open my eyes to see Mitch sitting by my legs.

  "Hey, you're crying. What's wrong?" Mitch asked softly.

I closed my eyes and thought about hearing Landon crying over the phone.

  "Landon is having n-nightmares again. N-Nothing that Lauren does helps. She called me a few hours ago wanting me to sing to him again." I explained with a slight stutter.

  "Oh Scott, not again. That's the fifth time this month. Poor baby."

  "I wish I could do something. I don't mind waking up and singing to him over the phone, but the time zones, rehearsals, show days, press days, and the late nights are tiring me out then Lauren would call a few hours later needing me. And I would never turn down family."

He nodded in understanding and wiped a few of my tears.

  "I understand he loves your voice so why don't they play one of the songs from an album." Mitch asked.

  "They tried, but my leads are more upbeat and it would make him alert and awake when they need him to sleep."

  "Ohh...I see. Well hon, Esther wants everyone down in the lobby to go for brunch so I'll let you get dressed." Mitch paused a moment before getting up. "It's going to be okay. I'm her for you." He leaned down and kissed my forehead before getting off the bed.

* *   * *   * *

After brunch, there was a quick run through the set then the rest of the day was up to us. Some went out and explored and some stayed in to rest or write. Mitch and I were hanging around the hotel room when Mitch started singing Song of the Sea, the lullaby that I sing to Landon.

  "Where did you hear that song?" I asked.

  "Whenever you would sing it to Landon." He replied, while messing with his phone. "I love the lullaby you sing-SCOTT!"

I literally jumped, startled from him screaming my name.

  "MITCH!" I said in a mocking tone.

He glared at me then rolled his eyes.

  "Anyways, you should write him a lullaby." Mitch suggested.

I loved this idea!!!

  "What a great idea! Thanks Mitchy."

I grabbed my songwriting notebook and started working on the lullaby at full force.

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I hope you enjoyed this. I loved writing it. If you think there should be a part 2 then comment and tell what you think. LOVE YOU GUYS!!! 

Thanks for reading. <333