Maybe forever

*Amelia* "That was amazing, Ami, simply great." Jasper smiles happily at me and hugs me tight. I return both the hug and the smile. "Thank you, sweetie! It was so much fun being out there. Thank you for believing in me." I can hardly believe that I just held my first real concert after releasing my first album. It feels like a dream. I still struggle to accept that I’m living this fairy tale. Everything seems to be happening so quickly. My first single was a smash hit, and my album is following suit; all my concerts are sold out. Jasper is already talking about promoting me throughout Europe, convinced that I’ll be the next big thing. I feel so grateful for everything happening in my life, but my thoughts inevitably drift to Cory, and my heart aches. It’s been six months since I left him in that hotel room after he cheated on me, and thinking about him still hurts. I knew it would end badly; it all happened too fast, too much. It was doomed from the start. There's a saying: the flames that burn the brightest burn out first. On the outside, I pretend to be strong, not showing my pain, but for two months, I cried myself to sleep every night, snuggled up to the T-shirt he left behind. Slowly, it has gotten better, and now the breakdowns are few and far between. Still, I avoid anything that reminds me of him; the wound is still raw. Linda has tried to bring it up a couple of times, suggesting I should contact him since I clearly miss him, but I’ve rejected the idea. It’s over, and there’s no reason to poke at the old wound. Sometimes, she can’t help but let comments slip about what he’s doing, where he is in the world, and that he’s still single. Luckily, I’m busy… very busy… and I don’t have much time to sit and wallow in what I’ve lost. “Ami? Ami, are you still present?” Jasper waves a hand in front of my face, chuckling. I blink and look at my agent and very good friend. “Sorry, I was just getting lost in my own mind. Let’s get moving.” We head backstage, where I change into my own clothes before going back out to sign autographs. I’m relieved that our relationship was never publicly known; I wouldn’t have been able to handle a public breakup. When people ask about my love life, I simply tell them I’m single and happy with it. I don’t have time for a relationship right now anyway. As I go out to greet my fans and sign autographs, I try to acknowledge every single one of them. Without them, I would still be a waitress; I owe them everything. Especially the younger fans mean a lot to me. I love seeing their happy faces when I talk to them. A week later, I’m unpacking my clothes after doing nine shows in seven days all over Denmark when I find Cory’s T-shirt. I bite my lip, feeling that familiar pain in my chest. I should throw it out; it doesn’t even smell like him anymore, but I can’t. No matter how stupid it is, I can’t let go. I fold it up nicely and put it in the back of my closet. Someday in the future, I might be able to get rid of it… probably around the same time I’m ready to date again. I’ve never really had trouble getting men’s attention, not since I became an adult anyway, but after my single came out, it’s just ridiculous. I stop going out except for private or closed parties; I just can’t deal with men coming on to me all the time, especially knowing it’s only because of who I am. Even Linda knows better than to push me into dating again. I need time… plenty of time.