that went along with
the lyrics, but tonight, as I handed off my guitar to a roadie, the pain in my side raged so hard I didn’t
know if I would be able to perform. During my set with Jacob’s Ladder, it had grown even more
intense. I’d even popped four more Advil during our costume change. The last thing I wanted to do
was have to go the emergency room in some random city, but at the same time, I knew if it wasn’t
better by morning, then I had to go.
When the last chord echoed through the stadium, Jake leaned over and kissed me. “Give it up for
my own little spitfire!” I forced a smile to myself as the audience roared and clapped.
“And to my very own Johnny sans all the black clothes,” I said.
The roadies took Eli’s guitar while Gabe came out from behind the drum set. “Show some big
love for Jacob’s Ladder!” Jake shouted into the mic.
Sandwiched by my brothers, I clasped both their hands before bowing. I had to grit my teeth
when it came time to pick myself up. It took everything within me to smile into the microphone and
say, “Goodnight everybody and God Bless!”
Jake gave me a brief kiss before heading off the opposite side of the stage for his entrance with
Runaway Train. When I started off stage, the pain in my side grew so intense it caused me to stagger
momentarily. Once I had regained my footing, I drew in a few deep breaths before continuing into the
wings. Gritting my teeth, I wove in and out of the roadies and stage crew. As I bypassed the backstage
waiting room, Eli called to me. “Where are you going?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Back to the bus. I want to lie down.”
Eli’s brows furrowed. “You okay, sis? You look kinda pale.”
Since I didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily, I nodded. “I’m fine. I just need some more
Advil that’s all and to lie down for a little while.”
“Jody, make sure Abby gets to the bus okay,” Gabe instructed.
I rolled my eyes at their being so overprotective. “Guys, I’m fine.”
“Just shut up and let Jody do his job,” Eli replied.
Since the pain had grown even more intense, I merely nodded. In silence, Jody followed me to
Jake’s and my bus. Without the driver, Jody had to unlock the door. “Perry is inside with the rest of
the crew. Will you be okay by yourself?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, I’ll lock the door behind you.”
“Thanks,” I murmured.
When I started up the stairs, I felt something trickling between my legs. Pain seized me so hard I
bent double and screamed in agony. My knees gave way, and I collapsed onto the floor. With
trembling hands, I felt of the stickiness that ran down my thighs. Bringing it up to the light I saw it was
dark red blood. “Oh God,” I muttered.
Reaching out, I grasped hold of the side of the couch and tried to pull myself up. I knew my cell
phone was somewhere in the bedroom, and I desperately needed to get to it. When I flung myself onto
the couch, the stabbing pain caused me to shriek again. On trembling legs, I took two steps. A roar
came through my head as everything grew black. I pitched forward and fell to the ground before
everything faded around me, and I was enveloped in the darkness.
When I came off stage after our set, I was a sweaty, exhausted mess. Peering around the back stage
room, I searched for Abby, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. During our duets, something had been off
with her, and I was worried. “She went on to the bus after our show. She wasn’t feeling well,” Gabe
informed me.
Icy apprehension ricocheted through me. Abby wasn’t one to ever complain, so the very fact she
had gone to lie down meant there was something wrong. “Oh okay,” I mumbled, raking a shaky hand
through my hair.
When a roadie thrust a clean shirt and bottle of water at me, I shook my head. “Thanks man, but
I’ll grab something on the bus. I wanna check on Abby.”
The roadie nodded as I brushed past him out the door. “Wait
the lyrics, but tonight, as I handed off my guitar to a roadie, the pain in my side raged so hard I didn’t
know if I would be able to perform. During my set with Jacob’s Ladder, it had grown even more
intense. I’d even popped four more Advil during our costume change. The last thing I wanted to do
was have to go the emergency room in some random city, but at the same time, I knew if it wasn’t
better by morning, then I had to go.
When the last chord echoed through the stadium, Jake leaned over and kissed me. “Give it up for
my own little spitfire!” I forced a smile to myself as the audience roared and clapped.
“And to my very own Johnny sans all the black clothes,” I said.
The roadies took Eli’s guitar while Gabe came out from behind the drum set. “Show some big
love for Jacob’s Ladder!” Jake shouted into the mic.
Sandwiched by my brothers, I clasped both their hands before bowing. I had to grit my teeth
when it came time to pick myself up. It took everything within me to smile into the microphone and
say, “Goodnight everybody and God Bless!”
Jake gave me a brief kiss before heading off the opposite side of the stage for his entrance with
Runaway Train. When I started off stage, the pain in my side grew so intense it caused me to stagger
momentarily. Once I had regained my footing, I drew in a few deep breaths before continuing into the
wings. Gritting my teeth, I wove in and out of the roadies and stage crew. As I bypassed the backstage
waiting room, Eli called to me. “Where are you going?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Back to the bus. I want to lie down.”
Eli’s brows furrowed. “You okay, sis? You look kinda pale.”
Since I didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily, I nodded. “I’m fine. I just need some more
Advil that’s all and to lie down for a little while.”
“Jody, make sure Abby gets to the bus okay,” Gabe instructed.
I rolled my eyes at their being so overprotective. “Guys, I’m fine.”
“Just shut up and let Jody do his job,” Eli replied.
Since the pain had grown even more intense, I merely nodded. In silence, Jody followed me to
Jake’s and my bus. Without the driver, Jody had to unlock the door. “Perry is inside with the rest of
the crew. Will you be okay by yourself?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, I’ll lock the door behind you.”
“Thanks,” I murmured.
When I started up the stairs, I felt something trickling between my legs. Pain seized me so hard I
bent double and screamed in agony. My knees gave way, and I collapsed onto the floor. With
trembling hands, I felt of the stickiness that ran down my thighs. Bringing it up to the light I saw it was
dark red blood. “Oh God,” I muttered.
Reaching out, I grasped hold of the side of the couch and tried to pull myself up. I knew my cell
phone was somewhere in the bedroom, and I desperately needed to get to it. When I flung myself onto
the couch, the stabbing pain caused me to shriek again. On trembling legs, I took two steps. A roar
came through my head as everything grew black. I pitched forward and fell to the ground before
everything faded around me, and I was enveloped in the darkness.
When I came off stage after our set, I was a sweaty, exhausted mess. Peering around the back stage
room, I searched for Abby, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. During our duets, something had been off
with her, and I was worried. “She went on to the bus after our show. She wasn’t feeling well,” Gabe
informed me.
Icy apprehension ricocheted through me. Abby wasn’t one to ever complain, so the very fact she
had gone to lie down meant there was something wrong. “Oh okay,” I mumbled, raking a shaky hand
through my hair.
When a roadie thrust a clean shirt and bottle of water at me, I shook my head. “Thanks man, but
I’ll grab something on the bus. I wanna check on Abby.”
The roadie nodded as I brushed past him out the door. “Wait
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