Epilogue:
Standing Tall
A.J.
drew in a deep breath, trying to relax. Nervousness was nothing new to him, but
near-paralysis was. He crept closer to the stage, straining his ears to pick up
the chant of the crowd, and a new feeling crept in to the pit of his stomach, one
of delirious joy.
The
opening acts were done, and the crowd was ready and waiting. They had picked up
a steady chant, demanding to see their Boys. They had waited long enough.
“You
ok, Bone?” Howie asked, putting his hand on the back of A.J.’s
shoulder. A.J. jumped.
“Yeah,
I’m fine.” He broke into a smile.
“What
is it?”
“Will
you listen to that?” he asked, pointing toward the stage and the screams of the
audience. “That is for us.”
“I
know,” Howie said with a laugh.
“Damn,”
was all he said.
“Whoohoo!” Nick hollered, running up behind them. “Are we
ready to rock this house?”
Brian
watched his best friend for a moment, with a far away look in his eye.
“Brian?”
Nick asked questionably.
“Do me
a favor,” Brian said.
“What?”
“Don’t
ever let me see you in a hospital bed again. I like you this way much better.”
Nick
grinned, and punched him affectionately on the shoulder. “Deal.”
“BSB
what time is it?” Kevin yelled.
The
spark in their eyes was infectious. The small crowd backstage began to clap in
rhythm.
“It’s
time to go to work y’all!” they shouted.
“What
kind of work?” Kevin hollered.
“Hard
work!”
The
determination of five young men swelled together, creating a confidence that
was unbreakable. They lined up together and prepared to take the stage.
“Lets
do this!” A.J. yelled.
They
ran out onto the stage to the thunderous cheers and yells of the packed arena.
“Hey
everybody!” A.J. screamed. “Backstreet’s back all right!”
Feeling
the rush of the crowd crawl its way through shaking up his heart and soul, and
the love that seeped in from all around them, Brian threw his arms out to the
side, welcoming it. They had made it. They were back. They had stuck by each
other, and they had survived. The joy that flooded every pore of his body was a
feeling he never wanted to let go of. He felt his voice fill his lungs, and
when he let it go, it reflected the long road they had been down, and instilled
the firm belief that they weren’t afraid to travel the rest.
“Everybody…”
The End
***
