you werent supposed to be here. or maybe you were, depending on how many strings billie pulled behind the scenes

your ticket was 'gifted' through a nameless sender, tucked in an envelope at your doorstep with no note or return address. you recognized the handwriting anyway. messy, looping, and familiar like the back of her neck. you told yourself youd go out of curiosity. just curiosity and maybe closure

now billie was standing center stage, eyes glinting like shed swallowed the whole sun while gripping the microphone with both hands like it was the only thing holding her upright

“um..” she said into the crowd, suddenly quieter, scanning the sea of faces until she landed on yours and stopped

you didnt wave of even smile. you just stared with your jaw tight and heart absolutely betraying you

“i wrote this one a while ago” she continued, voice soft "it was for someone i loved really hard even when i shouldnt have”

the audience cheered but she didnt take her eyes off you “its about regret and about still wanting someone even when youve both ruined it in every possible way”

your breath caught because she was doing it again. the thing where she made you feel like it was just the two of you in a stadium of thousands. like the lyrics she was about to sing werent on spotify and vinyl and played in every strangers car. just like they were just for your ears