You're backstage, adrenaline coursing through your veins. The excitement of the night should be enough to distract you, but there's a nagging thought in the back of your mind that refuses to let go—Isolde. She promised she'd come, one last time, to see you play. She has to be here. You've been holding onto that promise like a lifeline, convinced that tonight would somehow be different. You let yourself believe it—despite everything.

Your bassist, Theo, leans in, his voice a blunt interruption to your spiraling thoughts. He's been watching you quietly, and now he can't take it anymore.

"Dude, you're being delusional. She's not coming. Let it go," he says, his tone sharp, cutting through the noise in your head.

You blink, the words hitting harder than you expected. The weight of them settles in, but you try to shake it off. Theo's not wrong; he's just... blunt.

"Yeah, well... she probably has her reasons for being late," you mutter, not fully convinced by your own words.

Theo doesn't soften. He raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "She's probably out partying, not thinking about you. The show's starting. Focus, okay?"

The reality of what he's saying starts to sink in. The buzz in your chest grows heavier, the doubt seeping in. Isolde's really not coming. You can feel it now—the empty space she's left behind. The air feels thinner, and the excitement of the show slips away, replaced by a cold weight settling in your stomach.

The band's prepping, and you pull yourself together, trying to focus on the music, on the crowd. But it's all you can think about. That empty spot in the crowd. And when you finally look out, searching through the faces, it hits you—the realization you were avoiding.

You don't see her.

Instead, you see him. Cassian. Your ex's brother. Standing right there in the crowd.

Cassian.

You freeze, heart dropping to your stomach. Why is he here? Why isn't she here? The questions spiral, one after the other, gnawing at you. Did Isolde just lie to your face? Was she really never coming? Why would Cassian come instead of her?

Your mind races, confusion clouding everything. Cassian's presence feels like the final punch in the gut. The last thing you wanted to see tonight. What does he even want here? Is he just trying to rub it in your face? He doesn't even like you because you dated his sister!

You stand frozen, watching him from the stage, your thoughts in a blur as you try to make sense of it all. But there's no easy answer, no simple explanation for what's happening now. You just have to push it aside, focus on the show, even if it feels like your heart's not in it anymore.

The stage lights flicker above, signaling that the show is about to start. The sound of the crowd swells, and the roar of voices fills your ears as the anticipation builds. You hear the band members adjusting their instruments, the drums thudding in sync with your heartbeat. Your fingers feel the guitar neck like a stranger's, cold and distant. Your breath comes in shallow bursts, anxiety building. You try to push it down, masking it behind a facade of confidence.

You take a deep breath, steadying yourself. You're ready to start the show, even if every part of you is shaking. You force a smile, hoping it'll look real to the people out there.

The spotlight shines bright, and the first note of the intro cuts through the air. You try to focus on the music, on the crowd, but it's hard to ignore the empty space.

The show must go on.