Page 147 of The Prodigal Son

“Thanks for being the greatest band on the planet,” I say with tears in my eyes.

After one final celebration, we take the stage with more energy and enthusiasm than we ever have before.

The crowd is wild. Even through my monitor, I can hear them singing along. With my limited view through the lights, I can see them all dancing and celebrating with us. It’s incredible.

During the first half of the set, I peer out into the crowd whenever I can to see if I can spot my family. They’re in the VIP section and each time I barely make out someone new. Sadie is the easiest to spot with her vibrant red hair and the fact that she is dancing and jumping the most.

I pick out Sage too. She’s tiny and blends in with Adam’s tall frame, but I can see her tattooed arm held up as she sings along to the songs.

During each of the songs, I feel a sting of pain. For one, this is the last time we’ll be performing them in this show. I want to believe I’ll have another tour in the future, but sometimes these things aren’t guaranteed.

The other reason, of course, is because I miss him. I miss the beginning of the tour when I could feel him watching with pride, knowing that he would be waiting for me after every show. I try to imagine he’s out there. I swear I can feel his eyes in the crowd.

Regardless, I play for him.

As we reach the middle of the set, where the band takes a break and I pull out my stool, I sit on it and smile at the adoring fans who cheer for me.

“I just want to take a moment,” I mumble into the mic. “And savor this feeling on our last night.”

The din of cheers and applause reverberates through the stadium, so I pull out my earpiece and just take it in. My face is on the jumbo screen, so I can see and feel the tears in my eyes as I soak in this moment with my fans.

“This tour has been so incredible,” I say, hearing my voice echo back to me. “It’s been such a ride, and I have every single one of you to thank for supporting me and loving me along the way.”

As usual, a few of them shout their adoration for me and it hits home that I might not hear this for a while.

“You know what?” I say, holding my hand over my eyes to block the lights. “Can we shine the lights out there so I can see the crowd? Just this once? I want to see your beautiful faces.”

I squint up at where the tech crew is stationed. They take a moment, but eventually, they flip the lights so they’re shining on the crowd. The view of my fans jumping and cheering for me takes my breath away.

While I sit on the stage and stare at them, I think about how far I’ve come. I think about the day I left my home and ran away in search of a dream like this. I wanted tobemore. I wanted to prove to a bitter old man that I could still accomplish so much, even if I was a sinner. Even if I wasn’t the son he wanted.

I found adoring fans who love me.

I found a good man who loves me.

But maybe more important than all of that is that I’ve reached a point in my life whereIlove me.

I didn’t reach this milestone out of spite. I reached it because I wanted it. Because I deserve it. Because I love myself enough towork for it. To fall and stumble and mess up along the way but to keep going no matter what.

Squinting out at the VIP area, I wave at my family and they scream so loud I can hear them above the others. My mom, Adam, Caleb, Luke, Dean, Sadie, and Sage. They’re all here—for me.

There’s a familiar, robust man with a mustache near my mom, and my gaze catches on him before traveling to the tall man beside him.

All at once, the blood drains from my face as our eyes meet.

The crowd melts away. I don’t hear a single clap or cheer. I see no one else. It all turns to a far-off echo as my eyes soak in the sight of him.

Jensen is smiling proudly, clapping those large hands for me. He’s in the VIP area with my family, who are all now looking back at him. My face is still displayed on the enormous screen, but I’m no longer smiling.

There’s not a single thought in my mind except for him. No stage. No fans. No show.

Scrambling, I drop my guitar on the floor and take off in a sprint toward stage left, where a security guard is staring at me in shock and confusion. I practically leap off the four-foot platform and onto the floor, security swarming me in alarm.

The cameras are following me as I run up the aisle between fans who are screaming and jumping for me, but I only have one goal in mind.

He’s here.

When I turn the corner between sections and see him standing in the aisle with wide eyes laser-focused on me, my legs take me even faster. I sprint up the aisle toward him, and there is no hesitation. There are no questions in my mind of decorum or discretion. None of that matters.

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