you hadnt meant to end up backstage. not really at least. one of your friends had a plus one to where cari fletcher was playing a secret set downtown and you had just broken up with someone who made your life feel like absolute hell so you figured what the hell but you didnt expect her to actually see you

not from the stage while drenched in red and green lights while she was singing lyrics about wanting someone she shouldnt but somewhere in the middle of ‘girls girls girls’ she locked eyes with you and didnt look away for the rest of the song

you stood there, barely noticing the crowd pulsing around you like a living thing. your breath caught in your throat when she smiled

after her last note she disappeared into the fog and you figured that was it but then a stagehand tapped your shoulder “she said to bring you back.”