FEARLESS

5

A knock on the bathroom stall jolted me from my spiraling thoughts.

"Occupied," I groaned, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Y/n," a soothing voice called from the other side.

It wrapped around me like a warm blanket, reminiscent of my mother's gentle tone. How I wished she could be here with me now, to help me navigate this whirlwind of emotions.

"Open up," she urged softly.

I leaned forward just enough to slide the lock, and the door swung open. Andrea's kind eyes met mine.

"Oh, sweetheart," she murmured.

Without hesitation, she sank to the floor, and I collapsed into her arms, surrendering to the comfort of her embrace.

"It's all too much," I sobbed into her shoulder.

"I know, I know," she cooed, her hand soothingly stroking my back.

With my eyes shut tight, I let the floodgates open, all the chaos of the past twenty minutes crashing over me like a tidal wave. How could everything have unraveled like this?

"I left her," I gasped, the weight of my words heavy in the air.

"It's okay, she understands," Andrea reassured me.

I wanted to believe her, but the ache in my heart lingered.

"I have so many questions," I said, my voice trembling with each hiccup.

"I'm here for you, everything will be alright. I promise," she said with a reassuring smile.

My sobs began to fade, and I reached for some toilet paper to dab at my tear-streaked face. This was truly surreal.

"How bad was it?" I asked, leaning against the cool tiles.

"Not many people knew what was going on; you looked like a fan who was completely overwhelmed," she replied.

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me—relief and sadness crashed into me like a freight train.

"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do," I sighed.

Andrea took my hand, holding it firmly.

"We'll take it one day at a time, and you'll talk to Taylor," she said softly.

Taylor.

My soulmate.

It felt almost too incredible for so many reasons.

She's famous, she's a woman, and I've met my soulmate.

"I feel like I'm in a dream," I whispered.

"Trust me, I expected her soulmate to react this way," she chuckled lightly.

"It's not just about who she is; it's the fact that I've found my soulmate," I murmured.

I'm completely at peace with the idea of my soulmate being a woman. My sexuality has never been a concern for me. I've always been attracted to both women and men since I was young.

I could hear Taylor's voice echoing off the bathroom walls, her sound rising above the music as the show continued.

"Let's find a place where you can gather your thoughts," Andrea suggested.

Images of my friends flooded my mind. Were they anxious about me? Were they searching for me? I needed to reassure them that I was alright.

"Don't fret about your friends; I've arranged for them to be taken to the VIP tent," she said, rising gracefully from the ground.

It was as if she could sense my worries. I stood up silently, and she slipped her arm around mine, offering a comforting embrace reminiscent of a mother's love. Her touch grounded me. As we stepped out of the stall, I noticed several security guards stationed nearby.

"We're heading backstage," Andrea said in a calm tone as she led the way.

The guards surrounded us, creating a protective barrier. The moment we exited the restroom, a chorus of excited screams erupted from a group of girls clamoring for photos and a chance to speak with us.

Andrea graciously declined their requests as we hurried toward a restricted area. The security personnel swiftly opened the doors for us, some remaining behind while a few accompanied us closely. The atmosphere was hushed, with only Taylor's voice echoing softly in the background, providing an oddly soothing presence.

Andrea guided us to a room marked with Taylor's name, but I barely registered it as she ushered us inside. My attention was immediately drawn to a few cats, and I instinctively broke away from Andrea.

A white cat, likely a Scottish Fold, dashed toward me, extending its paws as if inviting me to pick it up. Without a second thought, I scooped it up and settled onto the sofa.

"I'll be back shortly; just take a moment to unwind," Andrea said with a warm smile.

"Thank you so much," I replied, meeting her gaze.

"Anytime, dear," she said before stepping out.

"Now, what shall I call you?" I murmured to the cat.

As the cat began to purr contentedly in my lap, my anxiety and distress gradually melted away. I closed my eyes, holding the furry creature close, feeling reassured that everything would be alright.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed insistently, and I pulled it from my jacket pocket to find a flurry of messages from my friends.

Katie: HOLEY SHIT

KATIE: DID THAT FUCKING HAPPEN

Chris: babe are you okay

Kate: what

Katie: what

Katie: heck

Chris: are you safe?

Katie: Mama Swift moved us

Chris: your emotional breakdown scored us an upgrade

The messages poured in relentlessly, and my mind spun with the whirlwind of recent events. Suddenly, an image popped up, capturing them reveling in the excitement of the VIP tent.

Y/n: hey everyone, no need to fret about me, I'm all good. I'm safe behind the scenes. Have a blast at the show. We'll chat more later.

With that, I pressed send.