𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒

15

GRACIE

I laid in bed with Emily's head on my bare chest, the soft rise and fall of her breath against my skin a comforting rhythm. But despite her warm presence, I couldn't shake the image of Emerson from my mind. Her face haunted my thoughts, my dreams, and even my social media feeds.

It had been three weeks since I dropped off Emerson's forgotten sweater at her apartment, only to find her cozied up on the couch with her new girlfriend, Gracelyn Allen. The sight had been like a knife to the heart, and ever since then, I couldn't escape the constant reminders of their relationship.

Every time I closed my eyes, Emerson's face would materialize, her laughter echoing in my ears. And then there were the posts on social media, each one a painful reminder of what could have been. It felt like she was everywhere, her presence suffocating me.

I sighed heavily, causing Emily to stir and shift away from me. She turned her back towards me, seeking solace in sleep. I reached over for my phone, the glow of the screen illuminating the darkness of the room. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the name on the caller ID – Taylor Swift.

Should I answer? What if it was about Emerson? What if she was in trouble? My mind raced with a thousand thoughts as I hesitantly brought the phone to my ear and answered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Hello?" I said, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Gracie, hi. It's Taylor," came the familiar voice on the other end of the line. My breath caught in my throat. Taylor Swift was calling me. What could she possibly want to talk to me about?

"Hi, yeah, hey, Taylor," I replied nervously, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. "Do you think we could meet? I would like to talk to you about something important," Taylor said, her voice steady but with an underlying sense of urgency.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Taylor— Ms. Swift, I can't talk about her, I won't. If that's your worry, your daughter's career is completely safe," I blurted out, my words tumbling over each other in my haste to explain.

"I know it is. Because I know you love her, Gracie. A few weeks ago, let's say almost a month, Emerson called me about something. It was about you. She wanted to help you start your career because she sees your potential as much as I do. You write songs, don't you, Gracie?" Taylor's words hung in the air, the weight of their meaning sinking in slowly.

Emerson saw my potential? The thought was both thrilling and terrifying, a mix of emotions swirling within me. "Yes— Yes I uhm, yes I do. Sometimes. Small drafts. It's just a dream," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"It doesn't have to be. Meet me at my house tomorrow, or today to be accurate, around 3 p.m.. Is that fine with you?" Taylor's voice was gentle, her offer a beacon of hope in the darkness of my uncertainty.

I hesitated for a moment, the reality of the situation sinking in. "Uhm, yeah, of course, that's f— that's amazing," I mumbled, my heart racing with anticipation.

"Emerson won't be there if that's what you're worried about," Taylor added, sensing my unspoken concern.

"No— of course not! It's just that, well, I'm talking to the Taylor Swift here. I'm a big fan and you just invited me to your house. Emerson is your daughter. She has every right to be at your house," I stammered, my nerves getting the better of me.