Chase:
We still have one show left in the tour and although I don’t want to leave Hope at the hospital, I know I can’t miss the last show. Her family is with her, so I find some comfort in the fact that she won’t be alone, she’s only a few hours away and she’s getting discharged tomorrow. I’ve spent the last couple days trying to spend whatever time I could with her when her family or friends weren’t visiting. She still has some hurdles ahead of her in recovering, but the doctor said she would get back to normal in a couple of months. Luckily, we don’t have tour again for about four months. I can’t wait to tell her the news today.
We have the bus loaded and everyone is ready to take off, but I make one stop before heading to the hospital to see Hope one more time before we head out. I have the sales person gift wrap it and grab a large iced coffee to take her as well. She is struggling with the hospital coffee to get her by.
I’m anxious as I ride in the elevator up to her room, carrying her gift, coffee and some flowers I picked up. An older couple is riding up with me and the woman looks at me with a warm smile.
“Visiting someone special?”
I smile and nod. “Yes, I sure am. Someone I love very much was in a car accident last weekend and I have to leave for work today, so I wanted to check in with her.”
She frowns slightly. “Well I’m sorry to hear about her accident, I sure do hope she’s okay. She must mean a lot to you.”
I nod. “She does, she is everything to me. Thank you.”
The woman reaches out and gently places her hand on my shoulder. “Well you make sure to tell her that son. Life goes by quick I assure you.”
With that the elevator dings, letting me know it’s my stop.
“I will and thank you again. Have a nice day.” The couple smiles at me and time seems to move in slow motion as I walk down the hall to her room.
I knock on the door and try to contain my excitement.
“Come in.” I hear her sweet voice on the other side.
I enter to find her alone, watching TV.
“Hey! I’m so glad you’re here.” She sits up in bed and smiles before giving me a questioning look. “What is all of that?” She asks.
I laugh, “Hey babe. I hope you’re feeling good today and this is for you.” I hand her the flowers and coffee.
“You didn’t have to do that, all I needed was to see you. Thank you so much.” She takes a big drink of her coffee and smiles. “Yum, okay that I needed.” She says, causing us both to laugh.
“I figured you’d like some of the good stuff and I wanted to get this stuff for you. We’re celebrating.” I have been holding on to these secrets all day and it’s killing me.
“Oh really? What are we celebrating!?” She exclaims.
I sit on her bed and place her package on her lap.
“Don’t open it yet, but this is for you.” I pause and grab her hand. “Well, we’re celebrating a few things actually. I found out some great news yesterday and I wanted to tell you first, but there was something I wanted to do to go along with it.”
“Annnnd!” She urges me and I laugh getting some enjoyment in building up the excitement.
“Annnnd.” I kiss her quick on the lips. “Ignite Records just announced Rising Aggressions first headlining tour. It starts in six months.” I smile wide. I’ve been given a second chance at life, a second chance at my career and given the best thing in life…someone I love to share it all with.
“What!?” She screams before quickly covering her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. “Shit. That was loud I hope they don’t come in here.” She whispers and I laugh. “Are you serious! Fuck, that’s amazing. I can’t wait to experience that with you. I’m so happy for you, Chase. You guys deserve this, so much. I can’t wait to get out of here and get back to work and moving.”
“It is pretty amazing huh? That’s not even the best part.”
She raises her eyebrow and gives me a smirk. “Oh reaallly? What could be better than that?”
I squeeze her hand and smile, no longer able to contain my excitement. “Well, over the summer while getting to know you, I noticed you have a passion for something other than music and traveling and I wanted to give you something to help you pursue that. Which brings me to the gift. It’s a three part gift really, so open it and I’ll explain.”
She picks it up and squeals in excitement as she tears off the wrapping paper. “Chase!” Hope exclaims, “You didn’t! Oh my God, this is too much. Thank you! You didn’t have to do this, but thank you so much.” She looks over the box to her new Nikon D3400 DSLR digital camera, with an extra zoom lens and carrying case.
I smile and my heart warms at her excitement. I love this woman so much and it feels good to be able to give her something that she will really enjoy using.
I lean forward and kiss her. “You’re welcome babe, but that’s not all.”
She scowls at me, “Chase, as much as I love this and you, I don’t need you to shower me with gifts, all I need is you.”
Chuckling I hold up my index finger for her to wait a second. “Shush and let me finish. Look inside the camera box.”
She shakes her head and opens the box, pulling out the piece of paper I have folded up inside.
“Now I know you will be moving soon, so this is only a six week course. I signed you up for classes to learn more about photography. I saw you always taking pictures with your small camera and talking to Aiden and Cole about the pictures and website graphics, so I wanted to do this for you. Now you can help take photos for promos and on tour next year. If you want that is.”
She places the box on her table next to her and carefully leans over to me, wrapping her arms around me.
“I love you, Chase. This is the best gift anyone has ever given me. It means more than you know. Thank you.”
I squeeze her tighter, careful to not hurt her and relish in the fact that I have the opportunity to know and love this woman. I’m so fucking lucky. From surviving my wreck, to the tour this summer and meeting the love of my life, I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I’m not fucking it up ever again.
“I love you, Hope. I promise things will only be up from here. I can’t wait for you to get out of here, but make sure you take time to heal. No rushing everything, because I do know you. After show tonight I will be right back here to help you get everything cleared out tomorrow and moved. You’re not really in a position to argue so just say okay.”
She sticks her tongue out at me, grabs her coffee and goes back to admiring her camera.
Everything is going to be different now. There will be no reservations between us, no guessing about what this is or where it’s going. Now we have each other and the crazy life we live together. We have nothing but adventure and love ahead of us.
“Hey, I’ll be right back okay? I need to make a quick call. You test out that camera.”
“Okay.” She smiles and takes off the lens cap, aiming her focus to me and I hear the shutter clicking as I walk towards the door.
Life is nearly perfect…just one more thing I have to do. I am ready to start completely over and that includes everyone I have had struggles with.
I dial the one number I haven’t in weeks and my palms begin to sweat as the line rings.
“Hello?” A deep voice answers.
“Dad? It’s Chase.”
There is a pause and for a moment I wonder if he will even have time to talk.
“Son? Are you okay?”
I take a deep breath and smile.
“Yes Dad. I’m great actually. I just wanted to call you and talk to you.”
“Okay.” He says quietly.
“Look, I know we haven’t stayed in contact much since my wreck and I’m sorry about that. I take blame for some of that, but I just- I don’t want things to be like that anymore Dad. I’ve learned a lot this summer and life’s too short for this. I just wanted to say I love ya and that I’ll be coming home next week to visit if that’s okay?”
He clears his throat and his voice breaks slightly when he talks. “Of course. I love you, son. I’m sorry too, I was only trying to protect you is all. I know I didn’t go around it the right way. I just don’t know what I’d do if I lost you too. I’m looking forward to you coming home. How are things anyway?”
I smile, “Well funny you ask. Things are better than I ever thought they would be actually. I met someone and she’s… well she’s more than I could ever ask for…”
I walk down the hallway as I tell him everything. I start with Hope. Telling him how we met and what she does. That I can’t wait for them to meet because I know he will love her too, she reminds me of mom with her warm heart and adventurous soul. I tell him about the headlining tour and that although I know he’s busy with work, I really want him to come see a show. Finally, before we hang up I mention that I am going to be helping with the bills and he doesn’t have a say so. I want to help him and it’s what is right. Surprisingly he doesn’t argue, and we talk for a few minutes more, before I tell him I need to get back to Hope and that I’ll see him next week.
I hang up knowing that everything really will be alright this time and head back to my girl. I know this will be a little bit of a learning process to balance everything, but when you’re given the chance to have everything you could possibly want, you don’t turn it down. With Rising Aggression moving back into the spotlight I don’t know what exactly the future holds, but I know one thing for sure. That’s to never lose sight of your dreams. If you have faith in yourself, and put everything you have into your passion, anything is possible. My life has been full of ups and downs. From my Mom passing away, to falling out with my dad, making it big in the music industry, nearly losing everything including my life and coming back again. Then, the unexpected twist of finding Hope in the chaos of it all. The only thing I am certain of is no matter how hard things get in the future, I know I’ll never let go; I’ll always be holding on to hope.