It's A Long Ride Home, I'm Afraid. {Camren} ✔️

~{30}~

Weeks had passed since my last incident with Lauren.

She kept a bit of a distance from me, but I completely understood why. I went crazy that night, so who knows if the same thing could happen again?

The tour was basically over. Our last show in New York City was finally here.

I remember the bittersweet feeling that came over me as I played "Consequences" for the last time. A part of me knew I'd revisit it in the future, but I'd already sang it live so many times along with my other music that I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

As I finished out the song, the crowd cheered loudly.

"Thank you." I told them. "I'm happy you all enjoyed my songs."

"Listen," I continued as the clapping quieted down. "Before I turn the mic over to Lauren, there's something I'd like to make very clear to all of you out there who are struggling everyday."

"Don't ever try to hurt the people who are only trying to help you." I told them. "We all have battles of our own that we're constantly fighting, and sometimes that causes us to lose ourselves along the way. Sometimes we forget that there will always be someone there for us."

I took a deep breathe as I continued.

"So, I guess what I'm really trying to say here is, make good decisions in your life. Don't be stubborn in realizing that maybe there really is someone out there who will support you no matter what you're going through."

"You all matter so much to somebody. Maybe it's time we realized that together."

I began to make my way towards the far end of the stage, waving goodbye to the crowd.

"Good night, everyone. Enjoy the rest of the show."

After a few more cheers, Lauren made her way on stage.

I was sitting backstage, mostly contemplating my decision to say what I said to the audience.

"Where the hell did all of that come from?"

I looked beside me to see Dinah standing there with her hands on her hips.

My guess was that once she got here, Normani let her backstage.

"I dunno." I sighed, giving her a tight hug after not seeing her for a while. "I guess since that might have been my last time on stage ever, I wanted to at least say some parting words. Who knows? Maybe somebody really needed to hear that."

Dinah smiled. "You worry too much. When's the transplant?"

"Once this show is over, we're packing and flying back to LA. By then we can officially say the tour is over." I replied. "Lauren scheduled an appointment to discuss the procedure, and then from there we'll decide when to actually have it happen."

"So this could very much be the last time I see you?" Dinah grimaced. I could tell she too was beginning to realize the reality of it all.

"Like, you could get on that plane back to LA, and that would be it?"

I smiled sadly. "Maybe. Didn't you just tell me I was the one who worried too much?"

The Polynesian woman sighed. "That was kinda stupid of me to say. I get why you're worried. Your life is literally on the line. Everything is literally on the line, here."

"And," she looked down. "I really don't know what I'm gonna do if anything happens to you. You were my first real friend in this world. That stands for something, doesn't it?"

"You were mine too." I told her. "We may not have gotten along at first, but compared to the other people I've met in my lifetime, you're the only person who's never made fun of me for being me."