Page 121 of Fame & Rhythm

He’s here.

“Is she okay?” Aston’s voice.

I don’t look. I can’t.

“She’ll be all right,” Caleb replies. “She just needs time… and probably to talk things through.”

“I did this,” Aston says quietly. “This is my fault.”

My chest tightens all over again, tears slipping from beneath my closed lids.

“I think this has been building for a while,” Ella says. “You might’ve triggered it, but it’s not all on you. We just need to be here for her… even if she pushes us away.”

Footsteps echo in the hallway.

“Is she awake?” Mum’s voice is closer now.

I force my eyes open again.

Aston isn’t there. Relief and something far more painful twist together inside me.

“She’s coming around,” Caleb says.

Mum kneels beside me, taking my hand, her thumb brushing gently over my skin. “Are you with me, sweetheart?”

I nod faintly, pulling in a shaky breath.

“The medic’s going to check you over, okay?”

Another small nod.

A blood pressure cuff tightens around my arm, squeezing hard enough to sting, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest. I drift again, hovering somewhere between here and nowhere, listening to voices blur together.

“I believe it was a panic attack,” the medic says. “She’s exhausted. Her stress levels have spiked, and her blood pressure is low… I’d recommend taking her to the hospital for observation. Possibly a psych evaluation as well.”

The words echo, distant and hollow.

And then everything fades again.

***

I wake in a dark room, someone holding my hand.

When I open my eyes, Mum is there, her head resting on my legs, fast asleep.

Hospital.

Of course I am.

I swallow, glancing around, trying to piece together how long I’ve been here and where everyone else is. I shift slightly, trying to get comfortable, and Mum stirs. She lifts her head slowly, blinking up at me, and my chest tightens when I see the tear tracks on her cheeks. “Annie?”

I nod, slipping my hand free from the blanket to take hers. “I’m sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“I know, sweetheart,” she murmurs, brushing her thumb over my hand. “We just want you to be happy. That’s all any of us want.” She leans in and kisses my forehead.

“Where is everyone?”

“Caleb’s with Indi. Ella and Aston went to grab drinks. And your father…” she exhales softly, “… he finished the show and texted about twenty minutes ago. He’s on his way.” I stopped really listening after she said Aston’s name.