You're the Only One

by E. M. Abel

  “Yeah, well, we’ll see. I still have to work out the details.”

  My excitement began to fade a little when I thought of my mom.

  Will she even be alive to see it? Will I miss more time with her if I go?

  “What do you mean, we’ll see? You’d better do whatever they need you to. This is huge!”

  I grinned, happy to hear the determination in Sky’s voice, but the thought of being away from her for months had me second-guessing all of it, too.

  “I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. Will I see you soon?”

  “Yeah. Steve says we should be done tomorrow or the next day. As soon as we finish, I’ll be on my way.”

  “Okay.”

  “I love you, Sky. Go back to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “I doubt I’ll be able to sleep now, but okay,” she said, sounding wide-awake. “I love you, too. I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Me either. I can’t wait to touch you again. My bed isn’t the same without you in it.”

  “Well, go get some rest, so you can rock it out tomorrow and come back to me.”

  “Okay, I will. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  As I lay in bed that night, I couldn’t help but question what was to come. I wanted to pursue my music career, but that would mean sacrificing my time with the ones I loved. Imagining months traveling the world without my best friend to enjoy it with just didn’t feel right.

  Maybe Sky can come with me. But what about Mom? What if she passes away when I’m on tour?

  Rubbing my hands over my face, I decided I’d better wait to tell Matteo until I knew what I wanted to do.

  SKY

  I couldn’t fall back to sleep after Dillon called me, so I spent the rest of the night working. I knew it was selfish, but I felt torn between the happiness I had for him and the sadness of knowing he’d be leaving. I might be able to go on tour with him but only if I put my own career on hold, and as much as I wanted to, something told me I shouldn’t. I loved Dillon, but I had to make sure I didn’t let go of my dreams and lose myself in that love. I hoped he’d understand.

  Around ten that morning, I made myself another pot of coffee and went to check in on Camilla. She was just waking up, but she didn’t look like she was feeling very well.

  “Camilla, are you okay? Do you need me to get anything?”

  “No, no, I’m fine.”

  I helped her sit up, and she winced in pain. Something didn’t seem right, but I knew she’d fight me if I tried to take her to the hospital.

  “Do you want to go into the living room or stay here?” I asked as I adjusted her pillows behind her back.

  “I’ll stay here for now, but I need help going to the bathroom.”

  “Okay, sure.”

  I helped move her until her feet touched the ground, and then I gingerly lifted her from the bed. Keeping my arm around her waist, I helped her walk to the bathroom. She was leaning on me more than usual, and I was concerned that her pain might be worse than she was letting on. I helped her pull down her pants and gently set her down on the toilet. I was too scared to leave her alone, so instead, I stayed beside her while she used the bathroom and helped her back up when she was done.

  “I’m sorry, Sky,” she said as I helped her pull her pants up.

  “Don’t apologize, Camilla. It’s fine. I’m going to call your nurse though, okay? Just to make sure I’m doing everything right.”

  She nodded slightly as we made our way back toward the bed. Once she was comfortable and settled under the blankets, I quickly went to get my phone and call the nurse. She said she’d be right over, so I hung up my phone and paced the kitchen, wondering if I should call Dillon. He was working on his last song today and planned to come right after he was done. I didn’t want to overreact and ruin this chance for him. I decided to wait until I talked to the nurse before making a decision.

  Getting a glass of water with a straw, I went back into Camilla’s room and brought it to her. She took a small sip, and I set the glass down on the nightstand. She closed her eyes, and her eyebrows creased in pain as she took a few deep breaths.

  “The nurse is on her way. Are you sure you don’t need anything else? Should I call an ambulance?”

  “No. Just help me lie down.”

  I helped her scoot down and moved her pillows, so she could lie flat again. Camilla put her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes. I sat down and nervously stared at her as my leg bounced up and down. I was terrified I might be making a mistake by not calling Dillon.

  “Tell me something happy,” Camilla muttered as she sank deeper into her pillow.

  “Um…Dillon got invited to go on The Red-Hot Music Tour this summer. It’s a really big deal, and he sounded so excited. He’s almost done with his album, too. He said he’s going to try to finish today, so he can come back tonight. That’ll be nice, right?”

  She grinned but didn’t answer me.

  “Should I call him, Camilla? Tell him to come back early?”

  She opened her eyes and turned to look at me, the gravity of her stare giving me pause. “I don’t want him here for this, Sky.”

  “But—”

  “I don’t want him to remember me like this. You understand, don’t you?”

  I nodded even though my mind was reeling. I didn’t want to betray Dillon’s trust.

  “Give me your hand,” Camilla said, lifting her fingers from her waist.

  I slipped my hand between hers, and she smiled at me.

  “I know he’ll be okay now. He has you. You’re like a daughter to me, Sky, and I love you very much. Don’t call him yet, okay? I’ll let you know when it’s time.”

  I closed my eyes and prayed she was right. “Okay.”

  By the time the nurse got there, Camilla had already fallen asleep. She checked her pulse and blood pressure and said everything seemed to be all right. She did recommend I call hospice though. I knew that wasn’t a good sign, but the nurse seemed a lot more confident of Camilla’s condition than I was, and I found comfort in that.

  I called my mom, and she promised to come over as soon as she was done at work. The nurse said she’d stay the night since the hospice nurse was due to arrive the next day. I was relieved that a professional would be here with us, just in case.

  I sat at the dining room table with my phone in my hand, wondering if I should call Dillon. I’d promised I’d let him know if things changed, but I knew he’d be coming soon anyway, and I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily. I’d also told Camilla that I wouldn’t call him.

  I decided to send him a text to see when he expected to come.

  Sky: Hey. How’s it going? You still think you’ll be done today?

  Dillon: Yeah. We should finish this afternoon. We’re almost done. I’ve already reserved a car. I can’t wait to see you.

  Sky: Me, too. I love you.

  Dillon: Love you, too.

  I distracted myself with work until my mom got here. It was almost four, and I still hadn’t heard from Dillon, but I hoped he’d be calling me soon to say he was on his way.

  When the front door opened, I ran to it and hugged my mom as soon as I saw her.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked, pulling away to look at my face.

  I nodded. “She’s been asleep all day.”

  “Okay.”

  “I haven’t told Dillon. Camilla told me she’d tell me when to call him. She said she didn’t want him to see her like this, but he should be on his way soon. I don’t know what I should do. I promised him I’d let him know if anything changed.”

  “Shh. Calm down, Sky. It’s okay.” My mom rubbed my arms to soothe me. “If he’s already planning on coming back, then don’t worry about it. Respect Camilla’s wishes.”

  I sucked in a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I knew freaking out wasn’t helping anything, but I was scared Dillon would hate me if I didn’t call him and something happened.
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  “Come on, let’s go check on her.”

  My mom took my hand, and we walked back to Camilla’s room. The nurse had put an oxygen mask on her as she slept, and I covered my mouth when the severity of her condition hit me like a ton of bricks. She didn’t look like Camilla anymore. I missed her bright eyes and wide smile. The life was slowly seeping from her body, and it was such a heartbreaking thing to witness. I squeezed my mom’s hand as I received a text from Dillon.

  Dillon: It’s done! I’m on my way to get the car now.

  I knew I shouldn’t worry him. The last thing I wanted was for him to rush back and risk an accident, but I also knew I had to say something.

  Walking out into the hallway, I called him.

  He sounded so happy when he answered the phone, “Hey, Sky! I’m on my way. I’m getting the car now.”

  “Hey. Um…I wanted to let you know that the nurse came over today. She recommended that I call hospice.” I chewed on my bottom lip as I waited for his response.

  He exhaled into the speaker, and the joy left his voice when he said, “Already? Is she okay?”

  “She wasn’t feeling well this morning, but she slept most of the day. The nurse is still here and keeping an eye on things.”

  “Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Do you need me to call hospice?”

  “No, I called already. They said they’d be here tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know.”

  “Can I talk to her?”

  I closed my eyes, willing myself to stay strong. “She’s asleep, but when she wakes up, I’ll make sure she calls you, okay?”

  “Thanks. I’m sorry I haven’t been there to help. I’ll be there soon.”

  “Don’t be sorry. We wanted you to be there. And drive safe, okay? Promise?”

  “Yeah, I promise. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” I hung up the phone and squeezed it in my hand.

  Please, give him a chance to say good-bye.

  It was a little after eight when Dillon pulled into the driveway. I breathed a sigh of relief and rushed to open the door. Kuma ran out to greet him, but he was too distracted to notice. His eyes focused in on mine as he came to the door, and I was sure he could see the trepidation in them.

  Without saying a word, Dillon wrapped his strong arms around me, and I hugged him back. It felt so good to be close to him again. His presence always made me stronger.

  “How is she?”

  “Still sleeping.”

  Pulling back, Dillon leaned down and kissed me.

  “Go see her. I’ll get your stuff.”

  He glanced down the hallway. “Okay.”

  He pulled away, but I put my hand on his arm to stop him.

  “She doesn’t want you to remember her this way.”

  Dillon looked down at me, concern lining his eyes as he nodded in understanding. I let him go.

  After bringing his bags in from the car, I went back to Camilla’s room to find Dillon sitting in the chair beside her. He was smoothing her hair from her face, running his fingers through her dark locks. When I took the seat on the other side of her, he looked at me, and the grief in his eyes took my breath away.

  I watched Camilla, and my lips lifted into a sad smile. “She’s beautiful,” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears.

  Dillon lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “She is.”

  We spent the rest of the night sitting beside Camilla’s bed as she slept. Dillon and I took the time to catch up. He told me about his album and his time with Steve. We discussed the tour and his apprehensions about leaving me. He said he wished I could go with him but thought I should stay behind and focus on my business. I didn’t have to tell him about the decision I’d made because he already understood how much my work meant to me. We knew it would be difficult, but we’d both been working so hard, and neither of us wanted to lose momentum. We were confident we could handle the time apart, no matter how difficult it might be.

  At some point, I’d fallen asleep in my seat. I woke up later to the sounds of beeping and people whispering. When I opened my eyes, the nurse was walking out of the room, and Dillon was leaning forward with his mouth beside his mother’s ear. The beeping was slow but consistent. I saw Dillon’s lips moving, a tear sliding down his cheek.

  “It’s okay, Ma. You can go. Go see Maurice.”

  His whispers floated through the air and tore at my heart.

  A few seconds later, the beeping stopped.

  Camilla’s house was full of people who loved her. Family, friends, and neighbors all gathered to pay their respects to a woman who had touched their lives with her kindness and compassion. TJ and Matteo had driven down from New York, and some of our old high school friends even came to give their condolences.

  Dillon was holding strong, accepting the support and kind words from everyone as they came to speak to him. I knew his heart was hurting, but I was glad that he had been able to get home in time to say good-bye.

  The house was filled with chatter, tables were covered in food, and people spoke of the happier times, remembering Camilla in a way I knew she would have wanted.

  After a couple of hours, my mom stood in the living room and tapped a spoon against her glass of wine. Dillon and I stood beside her, his arm around my waist.

  “I’d like to thank you all for coming and paying your respects. Camilla was my best friend, and I know how much she will be missed. This world won’t be the same without her.”

  I wiped my eyes with a tissue, and Dillon’s arm tightened around me.

  “I always knew Camilla was strong, but in these past months, I came to realize she was so much more than that. She did more than survive this life. She thrived in it. Camilla was the most giving and positive person I’ve ever known, and I’m sure she’s watching over all of us now, wondering why we look so sad.”

  My mom smiled through her tears, and so did everyone else in the room.

  “We love you, Camilla. Thank you for the time and love you gave us.”

  Everyone in the room nodded and clapped, some of them wiping tears from their faces, as Brad pulled my mom in for a hug.

  Inhaling a shaky and deep breath, I took a step forward, and Dillon’s arm released me. I hadn’t planned on saying anything because I didn’t think I could, but I changed my mind.

  “Camilla taught me so much about life. She taught me about family, about love, and most of all, about forgiveness.” I glanced at my mom and grinned as I reached out and took her hand. “She showed me how to fight and how to keep getting up, no matter how many times this life might knock you down. And she raised an amazing son who has shown me just how beautiful real love can be.”

  Peering over my shoulder, I smiled at Dillon, and he grinned back at me, that same love filling his eyes.

  Turning back to face the room, I closed my eyes and lowered my head. “Rest in peace, Camilla. We’ll miss you.”

  I let go of my mom’s hand, and we backed away as Dillon sat down in his mother’s chair and moved his guitar into his lap. Dillon’s music would say everything his words couldn’t.

  He started to play his guitar, and the room grew silent as everyone listened. Dillon closed his eyes as he played, his passion vibrating through the chords and filling the room. He started singing Shinedown’s acoustic version of “Simple Man,” and the power in his voice set off an ache in my chest.

  TJ came to stand beside me, and she squeezed my hand as Dillon brought us to tears. He sang the chorus, his eyes squeezing shut as he let all of us hear his pain. His voice gave me chills. I closed my eyes as I listened to him strum his guitar and sing about his mom’s advice and all she wanted for her son. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the time he strummed the final notes on his guitar.

  When he finished, he opened his eyes, and they reminded me of his mother’s.

  FIVE MONTHS LATER

  DILLON

  New York was the first stop for The Red-Hot Music Tour, and I was about to go onsta
ge. Tomorrow morning, I’d be getting on a bus and touring the country with other singers and musicians for the next three months. I wasn’t sure if that reality had officially sunk in yet. I’d been planning and practicing for the past five months, but nothing could have really prepared me for this.

  “Just relax. You’ve got this.”

  I smiled at my girlfriend, my lover, my best friend, mi Cielo and leaned down to give her a kiss. I would miss those lips.

  “I love you.”

  “I know you do. I love you, too,” she said, wiping her lipstick from my lips.

  Straightening my back, I kept my eyes on hers as my name was announced onstage. Fascinated and distracted by her beauty, I didn’t move, and her smile widened.

  “Go,” she whispered.

  So, I went.

  SKY

  Seeing Dillon perform on that stage in front of thousands of people filled me with so much joy. Knowing the world was witnessing his talent and finally giving him the recognition he deserved was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I couldn’t be happier for my man and everything he’d accomplished even if that meant he had to leave. Our love transcended space and time, and I believed the distance would only make us stronger in the end.

  After the show, Dillon snuck out early and took me to Luigi’s for dinner. I had a feeling that, after this tour, we might not have the same anonymity. Our days of peaceful lunches at Luigi’s might be coming to an end.

  When we walked in, Luigi clapped his hands and held his arms out. “Where have you two been? It’s been months, no?”

  I laughed as he came around the counter and gave me a hug. He spun me around, and I put my hand on my hip, modeling my latest design.

  “Bellisimo. Bellisimo.”

  Dillon chuckled and shook his head at our antics.

  “The regular?” Luigi asked as he got back behind the counter.

  “Yes, please.” I started to pull my wallet out of my purse, but Dillon got his out first.

  “I got it,” he said, narrowing his eyes at me.