Page 159 of Haunt Me

Eden: Well, let’s hear the rest of it.

Olivia: I want to invite you to the palace for a few days, so that we can get to know each other, as I said. But not just for that.

Eden: For what else then?

Olivia: …

Eden: Are you still alive over there, Olivia?

Olivia: You are going to say no.

Eden: How can I say no if you don’t actually come out with the words?

Olivia: Iwantyoutocomereciteyourpoemsatmycoronationnextmonth.

Eden: I’m sorry, I caught exactly zero of that. What?

Olivia: I want you to come recite your poems at my coronation. Next month.

Eden: …

Olivia: Are you still there?

Olivia: I didn’t think I could do it, get coronated, I mean, until I read your poems, especiallySurvivorandSmaller. I know people will say they are not exactly ‘coronation’ poems, but I don’t care. They aretruth, which we happen to have a lack of over here. They are your truth, and they happen to bemytruth as well. It was only after I read them that I decided to do this whole… throne thing. To be brave, like you. They showed me that someone had survived before me, and that I could too. Now, I think that the only way I could ever do it, actually ascend the throne, would be with these words by my side. Withyouby my side.

Eden: …

Olivia: And before you say that I don’t know you, I do. And you know me too. You know what I’ve been through, what it feels like. Better than anyone will ever know or understand.

Olivia: I know it’s a huge thing to ask, but… What do you say?

The Heartbreakers Forum

SaintHeartbreaker1: ISSY WOO is in the UK, I repeat Issy Woo is in the HOUSE! I will not apologize for the person I will become starting from tonight. The lives from Edinburgh were glitchy. Someone who was actually there, tell us how he was.

IssyFANgirl: Sad. Looked a little lost. Those vocals tho. He blew the roof off.

GigglesinIssy: Edinburgh night two, he was better. How is he so good-looking up close? I’m telling you it’s unreal. His eyes landed on me once and I died.

ThatIssyFan: Same thing happened to me. My voice is hoarse from singing along. He did a surprise duet with Louisa, and another with Jude. I nearly combusted on the spot.

IssysWIFEY: What’s next? Cardiff? I get it all mixed up.

SaintHeartbreaker1: It’s Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, (break), London, Dublin, Manchester. Another break, then Amsterdam, Vienna, Warsaw, Lisbon, Milan, Madrid, Hamburg, Munich, Marseille. Then FIVE PARIS NIGHTS (guess where I am going). Then London again (Wembley).

IssysWIFEY:Thank you, impressive! Also, dang, that boy is working hard.

IssyFANgirl: My man is singlehandedly CARRYING the music industry.

Heartbroken22: His vocals are unreal on this tour.

Fireworks4Girl: Buckle up, girls and lads. We are only getting started. Saint Hope preserve us.

Europe

thirty-two

The months pass by, and I don’t even notice. I reach a point where I no longer know what day it is, what month, or even what city we’re playing in.

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