One Thing

Dear Friend

"Mom! Dad!" I called over the noise around us. They were meeting me at the stadium before the show, but hadn't made it before sound check so the stage would erupt in noise every few minutes. 

I ran to my parents, hugging them both in the tightest grip I could get. I missed them. I never thought I would, but I guess once you are taken away from what you know, you start to miss it. 

"Oh honey, you look fantastic!" My mom smiled, her blue eyes gleaming in the midday sun. I always thought I looked like my dad, but now looking at her after not seeing her for a couple of weeks, i see our resemblance. Other than my blonde hair, I looked almost identical to my mother. My blonde hair comes from my dad, one of the only traits I got from him. I guess my personality is a bit more like him, but I now have become my own person. 

Knowing I can honestly say that feels fantastic. I've become someone on my own, my personal self. I chuckle to myself, earning a look from my dad. I mentally wave it off and smile at my parents. "I'm so excited to see you both! Would you like to stay for the show tonight? We have a private box right up there that you could watch the show in, it will be fun!" 

"Sweetheart," my dad says. I cut him off, my excitement taking over my manners.

"I have some new covers I'm going to do and Harry has been helping me write my own songs. They won't be ready for me to sing for quite awhile since the band has to learn everything and I have to finish them and whatnot but I could show you guys what I already have done. But these new covers that I am going to do are so much fun and," I pause when I see my dads expression. 

"What happened?" I know that expression, something is wrong. "It's okay if you can't make it. i can just show you everything now." I study his face closely, trying to see what he is trying so hard to say but seemingly can't.

"Honey, somethings happened." My mother puts her arm on my dads, comforting him while she speaks for him. "Maybe it'd be better if we go sit somewhere private." She nods to the band that has started to play again. I hesitate but then bring them back into my dressing room. 

My parents sit on the couch while I sit in the chair across from them. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, completely focused on what they want to tell me. Is my grandma sick? Are one of them sick? Is my mom pregnant? Hopefully not the last one, that'd be weird. 

"Dear, it's about Ethan," my mother leans forward, mirroring my position. 

"Oh, so the family is fine? Okay. What's going on with him?" I relax a bit, sitting back in the chair. 

"Kadence, he's in the hospital." 

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"Edith, is it okay if I change my set list?" I ask her with my head down, trying not to cause a scene with the boys. My face is red and splotchy, my eyes swollen and my nose runny. 

My parents explained to Edith what happened before they left so I knew there wouldn't be any further questions. "As long as the band knows the songs, of course you can." 

"Actually, I'd like to perform alone tonight. If that's okay, I mean." None of the boys have noticed yet, good. 

Edith puts her hands on my arms softly and bends down slightly to look me in the eyes. "If you think you can do that, I would be happy to make those arrangements." I nod and walk back to my dressing room undetected. 

As soon as I close the door, there's a small knock on it. I really don't want to talk to anyone but they probably just saw me come in and it could might worry someone if I don't answer. I silently turn around and open the door. Ainsley pushes the door open and pulls me into a hug, a hug I apparently really, really needed. She closes the door behind her quietly and just holds me while I cry.