09-22-2025, 12:52 PM
Cadence felt antsy for a bit before she picked up her wallet again. She really didn’t want to be alone and that in itself felt weird. She usually craved solitude when the crash was about to hit, but she followed her instincts and sent Casey a message.
Hey Casey. I know it’s short notice, but could use some company. Can you come chat for a bit?
Casey responded quickly and in the affirmative. Cadence told her where she was, feeling a bit like a weight had lifted. Cadence went to the counter and ordered two danishes and a black coffee for Casey, telling the barista to wait until her friend arrived to make it. Cadence knew what Casey liked.
Casey arrived rather quickly, which told Cadence she had likely worried her. Casey stepped in and gave Cadence a smile before heading to the counter. The barista looked to Cadence who nodded and she poured Casey her coffee. As she sat across from Cadence, the singer pushed a plate with a danish towards her bassist.
”Morning, Cade. You know just what I like,” Casey smiled as she took a sip of the coffee and looked around. ”Neat place!”
Cadence smiled, but it was slightly forced. ”Yeah. Really glad I found it.”
Casey’s face turned serious but lost none of its compassion. ”You’re going to crash soon, aren’t you?” Cadence nodded. ”You usually like to be alone when that happens. What’s different? How can I help?”
Cadence shrugged. ”I don’t know. I just didn’t want to be alone.”
Casey nodded and took a bit of her danish, she looked up slightly in thought. ”You’re changing, Cade, and I don’t thing it’s a bad thing. Just tell me what’s on your mind right now.”
Cadence nodded. She had been changing. She had felt it. Casey knew her well - better than any except her parents. ”Its like I’m beginning to see things differently. I feel happier than I’ve felt in a long time. I feel…free.” Casey smiled at that. ”And the past couple of weeks have been some of the best recording sessions we’ve had. I guess…I was hoping the crash wouldn’t come you know. Just something that said this fight was over.”
Casey put her coffee down and sighed. ”I remember when we met. Freshman orientation at Millikin. I walked into our room to find a quiet young woman who barely said a word to me, and only then it was generally of if I prompted it. I remember the first time I walked by a practice room and heard you sing. I remember feeling like I needed to practice right then myself. But you know what memory I really remember for that year? Cadence shook her head as Casey leaned forward. ”I came back to the room to find you in tears. At the point I knew you better and I wondered what could have hurt this kind woman with the beautiful soul. I asked what was wrong, and you told me you trusted me enough to tell me something. You told me about your painful past that night.”
Casey took another drink of her coffee, gathering her thoughts. ”Cade, I think you’ve been on the road of healing for a long time, and now you’re going through a big shift. And that’s good! But you still have a lot of trauma. You’re going to have days like this hon, and that’s okay too. You know no matter what, I’ll drop what I’m doing to chat if you need it.”
Cadence gave her a smile. ”Yeah…”
Casey gave Cadence an encouraging grin. ”Might be good for you to say some of the things that are going on in your head. Acknowledging the positive changes. Will you share with me?”
Hey Casey. I know it’s short notice, but could use some company. Can you come chat for a bit?
Casey responded quickly and in the affirmative. Cadence told her where she was, feeling a bit like a weight had lifted. Cadence went to the counter and ordered two danishes and a black coffee for Casey, telling the barista to wait until her friend arrived to make it. Cadence knew what Casey liked.
Casey arrived rather quickly, which told Cadence she had likely worried her. Casey stepped in and gave Cadence a smile before heading to the counter. The barista looked to Cadence who nodded and she poured Casey her coffee. As she sat across from Cadence, the singer pushed a plate with a danish towards her bassist.
”Morning, Cade. You know just what I like,” Casey smiled as she took a sip of the coffee and looked around. ”Neat place!”
Cadence smiled, but it was slightly forced. ”Yeah. Really glad I found it.”
Casey’s face turned serious but lost none of its compassion. ”You’re going to crash soon, aren’t you?” Cadence nodded. ”You usually like to be alone when that happens. What’s different? How can I help?”
Cadence shrugged. ”I don’t know. I just didn’t want to be alone.”
Casey nodded and took a bit of her danish, she looked up slightly in thought. ”You’re changing, Cade, and I don’t thing it’s a bad thing. Just tell me what’s on your mind right now.”
Cadence nodded. She had been changing. She had felt it. Casey knew her well - better than any except her parents. ”Its like I’m beginning to see things differently. I feel happier than I’ve felt in a long time. I feel…free.” Casey smiled at that. ”And the past couple of weeks have been some of the best recording sessions we’ve had. I guess…I was hoping the crash wouldn’t come you know. Just something that said this fight was over.”
Casey put her coffee down and sighed. ”I remember when we met. Freshman orientation at Millikin. I walked into our room to find a quiet young woman who barely said a word to me, and only then it was generally of if I prompted it. I remember the first time I walked by a practice room and heard you sing. I remember feeling like I needed to practice right then myself. But you know what memory I really remember for that year? Cadence shook her head as Casey leaned forward. ”I came back to the room to find you in tears. At the point I knew you better and I wondered what could have hurt this kind woman with the beautiful soul. I asked what was wrong, and you told me you trusted me enough to tell me something. You told me about your painful past that night.”
Casey took another drink of her coffee, gathering her thoughts. ”Cade, I think you’ve been on the road of healing for a long time, and now you’re going through a big shift. And that’s good! But you still have a lot of trauma. You’re going to have days like this hon, and that’s okay too. You know no matter what, I’ll drop what I’m doing to chat if you need it.”
Cadence gave her a smile. ”Yeah…”
Casey gave Cadence an encouraging grin. ”Might be good for you to say some of the things that are going on in your head. Acknowledging the positive changes. Will you share with me?”