Page 66 of From Me to You

Jay didn’t look my way after that. He just stared straight ahead as he performed.

I rushed backstage with the girls as soon as the show was over.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Jay cursed, sitting in the dressing room, cradling his guitar in his lap like a child.

The guys stood over him helpless as he continued to curse and fiddle with the guitar, which only seemed to worsen the damage.

“Guys.” Katy eyed everyone, letting them know to leave me and Jay alone.

Soon, they closed the door behind them as they left the room. Little did they know, I was helpless too—I had never seen him like this. He kept saying the same thing over and over again.

I kneeled before him and placed a hand on his knee.

He looked up, and my heart broke. He looked destroyed. I had never seen Jay so distraught like this. The anguish was evident on his face.

“It’s gone.” His voice cracked.

“We can fix it,” I whispered.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t play it anymore.”

“Shh, it’s okay.” I gently took the guitar from his hands and placed it on the side.

I took him in my arms, and he buried his face in my neck, breathing hard. I ran my fingers over his soft locks and whispered soft words to him.

Finally, his breathing calmed down, and he pulled back.

I ran my palm along his face. “You, okay?” I whispered.

Jay nodded and looked at his guitar with a sullen look on his face. He sighed as he picked it up, carefully placed it on the case, and closed it.

“I am going to go home. I need to be alone for a while,” he said, walking out the door.

I exhaled as worry settled in my stomach. He was going to be okay, I said to myself.

That night, I lay in bed alone, already missing him. I texted him that I loved him and told him to call me if he ever needed anything. He never replied.

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The next morning, I got ready for my shift at Olive’s, which I hardly took these days. I was pondering about quitting—I had almost worked there for a year now and had enough money saved up for a rainy day. And the main reason I started to work was to help Aunty M around, who wanted nothing to do with the money. So, it seemed moot now.

I was called in because their regular girl couldn’t make it last minute. I worked very part-time now, only filling in when they needed someone.

“Hey, Martha.” I greeted as I walked into the café.

“Morning, sugar doll. You seem tired, you okay?” she asked with a concerned look on her face.

I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was thinking about Jay. I kept checking my phone every five seconds, but he still hadn’t replied. I knew he was at home. The guys confirmed it, but he wouldn’t let anyone in.

I went in there knocking this morning, but he didn’t open it. I tried to look through the window, but he had his curtains drawn up and he had locked his doors, both of them. So, I let him be for now. I planned to go there again as soon as my shift was over.

“I am fine, Martha. I just didn’t sleep well last night,” I said as I tied the apron around my hips.

She nodded. “You tell me if you need anything, sugar doll.” She smiled as she went back to the kitchen.

Martha was the sweetest woman—she put her heart and soul into this place. It would be sad to leave her.

I texted Lily in our group chat, the one with just us girls called ‘Mikey is not allowed’ named by Katy. But Lily still hadn’t heard anything from Jay, and his room door was still locked.