Her face brightens instantly.
She pushes herself up from the sofa with renewed energy. “Someone at work gave me a bottle of Prosecco last Christmas. Let’s celebrate Steven properly.”
I smile despite everything. “Popcorn, yes. Prosecco, absolutely not. Doctor’s orders.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’ve become very bossy.”
“I learned from the best.”
In the kitchen, I move on autopilot. Popcorn goes into the microwave. Water heats for her tea. Snorty skids across the tile, batting stray kernels like they’re prey.
I set the coffee table in front of us with our treats.
Mom and I both sit down to watch the show.
Rio struts on stage.
Larger than life. Impossible to ignore.
As soon as he sees him, Snorty bolts off the sofa.
“What on earth—” Mom says, startled.
But my dog returns a moment later with Rio’s bandana in his mouth, looking at me to properly accessorize him.
“Oh, Snorty,” I say, tying a lose knot around his neck. “You miss him, don’t you.”
So do I. Though I'd never admit it to anyone.
Rio and the band have barely launched into their first song when women in the front row scream like they’ve lost their minds.
A sharp twist of jealousy hits low in my stomach. Irrational, I know, but I still feel it.
Then Rio lifts the mic and sings. His voice pours through the speakers, rich and controlled, every note landing exactly where it should.
All that rehearsal. All that pressure. It’s paid off.
Mom exhales slowly. “They’re good,” she says. "Really good."
She’s right. They're not merely performing. They own the stage.
Song after song, the show builds. Fire shoots upward. Lights strobe. The band feeds off the crowd’s energy, growing bigger, bolder.
Steven looks electric. I cheer like I’m right there with my brother and his best friend.
When the final song ends, Rio steps back from the mic, sweat-damp hair falling into his eyes. He bows once.
The audience explodes.
Encore. Encore. Encore.
The chant rattles the room.
Then something shifts.
The camera cuts to the front row. Center seat. A man in a sleek black suit stands, clapping slowly. Purposefully.
He doesn’t cheer.
