I hope she doesn’t think of me as one of her fires she needs to constantly check in on. She starts to hand over the phone, but I stop her. “Mae,” I call and she pauses. “I love you.”
The tiniest bit of sunshine shows through the despair as she smiles and answers, “I love you, too.”
A weight I didn’t know was on me eased at her response. Even as she hangs up and I’m left alone on the porch, I feel lighter. I hope she does as well.
Knowing what I need to do next, I pull up the text thread between my sister and brother-in-law.
Wyatt:I need permission to post something.
Hannah:Ben is driving, but I know exactly what you’re asking for.
The video appears in the thread and, just as she said, it’s exactly what I was needing.
Wyatt:Thank you.
Switching to my thread with Steven, I ignore the texts from the past hour.
Wyatt:I’m posting a video. Hope you’re okay with it.
Steven:…
I don’t wait for his response. Immediately going to Instagram, I pull the video of Carly singing along with Mae on the screen tonight. Equipped with a fake piano and not a clue of the lyrics, Carly mimics Mae throughout the clip and at the end, bows along with her band.
Narrowing the 2-minute video down to my favorite 15 seconds, I type my caption and hit post.
@WyattLucas:These are my Flickers of Light.
Within moments, the comments flood in, but I have neither the care nor the energy to read them. Instead, I go back to my main feed and investigate. The main account of theCountry Music City Awardshas posted a graphic implying that an investigation is going to take place. I roll my eyes. How much of an investigation is truly needed? It was all there, in color, on millions of TV screens. I scroll down to speak my mind, but the comments have been turned off.
I keep scrolling to the post they made of her performing. The comments have yet to be turned off here.
@Giggles4CountryMusic:How on earth can you let this happen??? This man is a triple offender! We’ve been telling you this for years! Annnnnd you’ve turned the comments off??? COWARDS!
@MaeEvansIsMaGIRL:Mae, baby, I’m so sorry this happened to you. We’ll make sure the performance is what’s remembered tonight. STREAM FLICKERS OF LIGHT!
@AnnParkens:I hate country music, but this performance was just stunning. I’m still shocked about what happened next. Maybe I should start paying more attention to Nashville if it’s this juicy.
@Cuntrymusicstan:Mae has definitely fallen off in the last few years, and I really don’t like this new direction, but NO ONE deserves what she went through tonight. Absolutely abysmal from everyone involved.
@TrentonTravisFAN47484:I don’t understand the big commotion or the reason for an investigation. She could have just asked him politely to step aside. He should have won the award anyway! SO STUPID. RIGGED.
Not knowing if I can read anymore without losing my cool, I tuck the phone away and take a long, deep breath. She can get through this and after tomorrow’s game, I’ll be free to be right beside her.
***
After tossing and turning for what feels like hours but really has only been 20 minutes, I roll over and grab my phone from the side table. I’ve missed a few messages, the top one being from Coach.
Coach L:I’m sure you’re very slammed with everything that’s happened tonight. I’m sure you don’t need the reminder, but tomorrow’s game is HUGE. I mean this in the nicest way – we can win without you if we need to. The game of football ends for all of us, but relationships can last forever.
Coach L:If you need to go be with her, then go be with her.
What he said touches my heart in a way I could never expect from a football coach. It’s almost an impossible decision. One that I wish I didn’t have to make.
Swiping back to my contacts screen, I tap Mae’s icon. It’s almost two in the morning there, but I hope to God that she answers. When her voicemail message plays, I tilt my head back on the pillow and listen to the sound of her voice.
As the beep sounds, I share my message: “Hey, I know you’re probably asleep. I just wanted to reiterate what I said over the phone earlier. I love you and want to make sure you’re okaybefore I commit to playing tomorrow. Just say the word, and I’ll be there for you -” I trail off as the end beep sounds.
Switching to text, I message her again.
