I recently ordered the Memphis boxset that came out this past summer and had a minute to look through the booklet inside, and wow, I was not expecting to find myself tearing up over a passage at the end of it. So, of course, I had a moment where I spiraled over the cultural impact of Elvis, as I often do after reading stuff like this. I'm very curious to hear yall's thoughts cause I've never really thought too much about this topic, and I find it super interesting. âĄ
Elvis on February 3rd, 1976, getting his photo taken for his Memphis Police Reserve Captain ID.
To begin this discussion, here is the passage in question that tugged at my heart:
"At Graceland, the upstairs was Elvis's private domain. The curtains were kept closed, foil covered the windows and blocked out the sun. Access was limited, and as the coterie of friends, girlfriends, and hangers-on slowly diminished, fewer sought entry. There was no thrum of the streets, no Shake Rag or Beale, no winds of change. His bedroom door was kept closed, the air conditioning was always very cool, and he read oversized spiritual tomes, looking for a way out, looking for a way in.
His bedroom was isolated, less a room in a house and more a chamber in space. Tupelo was a million miles away, Vegas and Hollywood were further, and though Memphis was just outside the door, its inspiration available and attainable, no new air could seep in. He was an expatriate in his own hometown.
Memphis giveth, and Memphis taketh away, and the city had given Elvis more than he could ever have imagined asking for, more than he ever wanted, and then like the ocean before a tsunami wave, it had withdrawn. Or he'd withdrawn from it. The fullness was bare, the loud laughter now spare, the warmth artificial from electric blankets. Words turned to sounds but not the joyful scatting of childhood, more a mumble, a murmur, a confusion that he could neither understand nor express.
When asked what he missed about Memphis, a 25-year-old Elvis on his way home from the army said, "Everything. I mean that everything." Late in life, and too fully ensconced there to be comfortable, he might have replied with words the same.
Elvis died at Graceland, upstairs, a man alone, less than a year after the last wail from the jungle room."
Robert Gordon, Memphis, 2024
The Memphis boxset focuses on all of Elvis's recordings that took place in Memphis, TN from his start in Sun Studios back in 1954, all the way up to his final recording session that took place in the den (now famously the Jungle Room) of Graceland. The set features 111 tracks and offers up a beautiful selection of songs that showcase the progression of Elvis' artistic style over the years.
This particular passage by Robert Gordon sits at the very end of the booklet included in the boxset, endcapping the famous Junge Room sessions with an introspective look at Elvis' relationship with Memphis and how that influenced his music. But why did this passage stand out to me so much? Why did it tug so hard at my heart?
"Memphis giveth, and Memphis taketh away."
Such a simple sentence, and yet it speaks volumes for the landscape of how Elvis and Memphis are intrinsically tied together, both then and now.
While Memphis had famous musicians before and after Elvis' rise to fame, none quite reached the level of stardom that Elvis achieved, and unlike many stars of then and now, Elvis was proud of his hometown, holding a natural love and affection for the city that served as an escape from the Presley's poverty in Tupelo. Memphis wasn't just any city for the Presley family, it was a second chance. It was an opportunity for them to create something better for themselves. And for a young Elvis of thirteen years old, it offered hope. Elvis was constantly striving for something bigger, something better, for both him and his family, and Memphis offered that in spades.
Elvis was immediately enamored with Memphis, and soon after their arrival, the music of Memphis would take hold of Elvis. While in Tupelo, Elvis was already familiar with a variety of music styles, such as country and gospel, but in Memphis, there was a music for every sort of flavor, and no doubt Elvis listened avidly. Whether it be by turning on Daddy-O-Dewey, Dewey Phillips at WHBQ, or turning the dial to WDIA, an all black programming station that played many local artists such as B.B. King and Rufus Thomas. Even on Sunday nights, Elvis would be able to listen to a sermon from Reverend W. Herbet Brewster, appealing to the inherently spiritual side of Elvis' nature.
Elvis listened to it all, and in time, it helped to mold him into the artist he would become in just a few short years. Elvis was constantly inspired by everything around him, and it all came together, allowing him to develop a level of self-confidence that hadn't previously existed in the young boy. As his love for music continued to expand, his image evolved with it.
"It seemed as if he was determined to make a statement, he was intent upon setting himself apart, without ever raising his voice or changing from the polite, well-mannered boy that he knew he would always be. By his dress, his hair, his demeanor, though, he was making a ringing declaration of independence. More and more to his fellow schoolmates he was a âsquirrel,â a misfit, a freak, as he would later describe himself, but not a freak to himself. Photographs show an increasing self-confidence, an increasingly studied self-image, even as he was being increasingly rejected by others."
The Rise of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis (by Peter Guralnick)
There's no denying the influence that Memphis played on Elvis' life, but what did Elvis do for Memphis?
While Elvis had homes in other places, such as Beverly Hills and Palm Springs out in California, he always returned to Memphis. His home was always there. When asked in 1960 if Elvis had plans to sell Graceland, he said no. Graceland was his home, Memphis was his home. He always came back.
Not only that, but throughout the years, Elvis constantly found ways to give back to Memphis through his charitable donations. Beginning in 1961, Elvis made it a yearly tradition during the holidays to donate to 50 different local charities throughout Memphis, donating around $100,000 every year. One of his favorite charities to support was St Jude's Hospital for children, where in 1964, he gifted them a boat, which he purchased for $55,000. The boat would be auctioned off and sold soon after, raising the charity an impressive $75,000. On February 25th, 1961, Elvis Presley Day would be declared by both the Mayor of Memphis and the Govener of Tennessee and on that day, Elvis would perform two shows at the Ellis Auditorium for a Memphis Charity Show where $51,612 would be raised and distributed among twenty-six charities. On December 1st, 1967, he would donate $10,500 to the Memphis Jewish Community Center Building Fund and paid a $2,500 installment on that day.
These are just a handful of instances in which Elvis strived to give back to the community, and many of his charitable donations went unpublished. Elvis gave from the heart, and he truly only wanted what was best for Memphis, the city he called home.
Charitable donations aside, Elvis always returned to Memphis, not just to his home Graceland, but to record and make music. Elvis' music journey began the minute he walked through the doors of Sun Studios on 706 Union Ave, Memphis, TN during the summer of 1953 when Elvis was only eighteen years old. He would return one year later to record with the studio yet again, this time shocking the world with the debut of his first single: 'That's All Right Mama'. Elvis would stay with Sun Studios until November 20th, 1955, when he would officially sign with RCA Records.
Elvis wouldn't return to Memphis to record until January 13th, 1969 after hearing about American Sound Studios from his friend Marty Lacker. Elvis would take a trip down to the funky studio located on 2272 Deadrick Avenue to record several hit singles at American Sound, including 'Suspicious Minds' and 'In the Ghetto' alongside two full length albums which would proudly be titled: 'From Elvis in Memphis' and 'Back in Memphis'. These recording sessions were a much needed return to form for Elvis after several years of monotony while being stuck making picture after picture out in Hollywood. Life and soul seemed to be injected back into Elvis' music, and once again, he seemed to be inspired by the city he knew and loved.
A few more years would pass before Elvis came back to Memphis again to record, this time in an effort to give Elvis a closer to home option as he was disinterested in returning to Nashville or Los Angeles. This would come in the form of STAX Records, located on 926 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN. STAX was home to many famous recording artists, including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, and the electric duo of Sam and Dave. Elvis would first visit the studio July 20th, 1973 for his first recording session there. He would then return a few months later to cut another selection of songs beginning on December 10th, 1973. Three albums would be produced from these sessions: 'Raised on Rock', 'Good Times', and 'Promised Land'.
Fast forward two years, and Elvis' last recording session ever would take place right in the comfort of his own home at Graceland. RCA was struggling to get Elvis back into the studio, so in turn, they brought the studio to Elvis. These sessions would begin on February 2nd, 1976 in the den of Graceland with an RCA recording van parked out back. The songs recorded during this time were an obvious reflection of Elvis' emotional state at the time, his selection focusing on slower, almost bitter sweet style ballads that compliment the deep tombra of his voice. He would cut several hit singles, including 'Hurt' and 'For the Heart', and would produce two albums to be released over the next year: 'From Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis TN' and 'Moody Blue' respectively.
Despite Elvis' label RCA Records not having a studio in Memphis, Elvis always found himself returning to his hometown to record. Something about Memphis drew him back while places like Nashville and Los Angeles failed to strike that same creative cord. It's almost poetic in a way. The first place Elvis ever recorded was in Memphis, and the last place he would ever record would also be in Memphis. His career would begin and end in the city he called home.
With Elvis and Memphis so closely tied together, one might expect the city to love and cherish the Presley name in a similar way to Elvis' birthplace of Tupelo, MS. But unfortunately, that's not the case. In Memphis, Elvis is nothing more than merchandise. A commodity, a tourist attraction, and in some cases nothing more than a joke. But why? Why has Elvis become a stranger in his own hometown? Why is it that the man who gave his all to the city he loved while he was alive, and a man who continues to give through the charities founded in his memory, so often overlooked and underappreciated by the city he adored?
Simply put, the majority of people visit Memphis because of Elvis. While Memphis has so much important history and cultural influence, many never discover that until entering the Elvis world. This was my personal experience and the experience of many other friends of mine.
To put it into perspective, over 600,000 people visit Graceland annually, generating an estimated $150 million dollars in revenue for the city of Memphis. Not only does Graceland as an enterprise profit, but small businesses, hotels, and larger chain establishments all profit from the visitors brought in because of Graceland. The Elvis Presley estate is also the most visited home in America (not counting the White House) and serves as a museum and the final resting place of Elvis and his family. In 2023, the Memphis economy increased by 6% from the previous year, growing by $6 billion dollars. It can be assumed that the release and popularity of Elvis (2022) being released played a part in that increase, bringing in even more tourists now that younger fans have become interested in the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
So, what's the point? For many, especially local Memphians, the image of Elvis Presley has usurped the man who lived and breathed the same air as them years prior. Graceland was no longer just a home, it was now an attraction. And while Graceland supports the community through the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation (EPCF) in various different ways, there is a large cavern that sits between Elvis and the people of Memphis.
It's easy to speculate that this could also be influenced by the years of constant misinformation in regard to the influence that black music played on Elvis' style, and how despite there being more than enough evidence to prove otherwise, many still believe Elvis to be appropriating black culture and label him as racist. Misinformation can damage a reputation, and there's no doubt that this rampant spread of misinformation had an effect on Elvis' legacy in Memphis.
So, what's the conclusion?
"Memphis giveth, and Memphis taketh away."
Memphis gave Elvis more than he ever could have asked for, more than he ever could have possibly dreamed of. It gave him hope, it gave him inspiration, and it gave him a home. In turn, Elvis gave back to Memphis throughout his entire life and continues to do so today through his name and legacy that were left behind.
Elvis is a part of Memphis, just as Memphis is a part of him. The two are forever intertwined, but despite the two being so closely related, Elvis forever remains a stranger in his hometown. They drive down Elvis Presley Blvd, they pass that mansion on the hilltop where the light is always on, but they don't see a man who gave his all to the city he loved, they see tour buses and merchandise, a business now and a home no more.
The image remains, the man gone from the public eye, trapped in the upstairs room of Graceland, watching quietly as the cars pass by.
"I took a ride with my baby by my side
And the Elvis Presley Blvd. where all the faithful cried
And I saw that silent mansion and I knew that I was lost
They were selling plastic souvenirs of Elvis on the cross"
- Elvis Presley Blvd. (by Billy Joel)
I definitely let myself get carried away with this topic, but I find it extremely fascinating, and I think it's super important to understanding the cultural impact and the modern view of Elvis, not just as a whole throughout the world, but more so from his hometown where Elvis is expected to be loved and cherished.
Elvis is more than just a product to be sold, he's a man with a legacy that worth the recognition, and a life and heart worth remembering. âĄ
Disclaimer: I could say a LOT more about EPE as a whole and their impact on Memphis and how they fail, in many ways, to show any real support to the community considering the sheer amount of money they make annually as a business. Unfortunately, I didn't want to make this post about EPE, cause honestly that's a whole subject of it's own, but I'd love to make a seperate post about that sometime as I do think it plays a major role in how Memphians view Elvis and how ultimately Elvis has been turned into nothing more than a piece of merchandise to be sold, rather than a human being that played a large role in American history and the culture of the 20th century.
I love Graceland and I love Elvis, but I do not love EPE as a business and have many, MANY issues with how they decide to run things. But that my friends, is a topic for another day. âĄïž
Prompt: Reuniting with Elvis was supposed to be the highlight of your summer, but with unresolved tensions between you two, things aren't what they seem. [Fem! reader]
TW: cussing, tension, angst
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 5.2k
A/N: Hi everyone! Hope your week is going well so far!. Here's the final chapter of this ficđ„č I had a great time writing this and fangirling over '69 E with you all. Hope you enjoyed. I want to make another post about the songs and stuff so I'll make that next. My next Phantom fic will be out this week too so keep an eye out for that toođ
You both stayed in bed til the afternoon. You were exhausted but had never been so content. You had never experienced Elvis being this attentive and also so needy. He just wanted all your attention all night long. He needed to have his hands on you, touching your soft skin or playing with your hair. You loved it and never wanted to get up from this bed.Â
You donât remember what time you two finally went to sleep but the sun was cracking through the curtains the last you recall. You get woken up by his lips peppering kisses down your chest and his tongue swirling around your nipple. You take a sharp breath in when you feel that electric shock that he gives you from his mouth. You keep your eyes closed and find his thick messy hair.Â
You moan softly, arching your body against his mouth. His other hand squeezes your breast and makes you writhe under him.Â
âItâs time to get up,â he hums cheekily. You struggle to take a breath as he focuses on sucking your hardened nipple.Â
âSeems like you want to keep me in this bed longer,â you sigh.Â
âI donât see anything wrong with that,â he teases.Â
He keeps you in bed as long as he can until you finally tear yourself from him. You were starving and he started to order room service. Because heâs Elvis, the food was up to the penthouse in record time. You realized you didnât eat much last night before the show because your nerves were so high for him. The food tasted delicious and it was probably because you were so starved. Elvis was the same way. That man could eat a whole feast and still want dessert.Â
After lunch, he wanted to go through tonightâs set list and make any last-minute changes. You couldnât wait to watch him perform again. It was going to be just as electric and exciting. You thought you could take a shower and take off all of last night's makeup as well as the sticky mess that was in between your legs.Â
You start the shower and make sure it's at the right temperature for you. Before getting in, you rummaged through the bathroom drawers and couldnât find a razor anywhere. You wanted to wear another dress tonight and you donât remember the last time you shaved your legs.Â
You turn off the water and go back out to the front room where Elvis is. You grab your purse off the chair and Elvis gets concerned about where youâre going. Â
âWhere you off to baby?â
âI just need something from the convenience store downstairs.â
âOh itâs okay Iâll get someone to get it for you,â he says going for the phone on the side table.Â
âNo itâs okay honey, I can do it. I wonât be gone too long,â you tease heading for the door.Â
You feel him swing you around and heâs pressing you against the door, a sly smirk worn on his face.Â
âYou better get back up here as quick as you can so I can help you with that shower,â he grumbles.Â
âOh, youâre going to help me hmm? I didnât know I needed help,â you tease.Â
âOh yeah baby trust me, youâve been doing it wrong for years. You need me to help you through it,â he says as he goes to kiss and suck on your neck. You gasp at how tender it is there and scratch at his chest.Â
âGod youâre killing me,â you groan. You feel his length getting hard and those damn hands roaming your aching body, in need of him already.Â
âLet Daddy take care of you,â he grumbles in your ear.Â
âNo you have to wait,â you sigh, âIâll be right back.â He grumpily agreed and his mouth passionately kissed your lips and made sure you knew how desperate he was for you. You groan loudly as you feel his cock get harder. He was impossible to say no to.Â
Your hand finds the door knob and you tug down on it and begin to pull it open as you continue to kiss him. Â
âIâll be quick. Iâll take care of this on my knees,â you say squeezing his whole package. He lets out a frustrated grunt and tries to kiss you but you move out of the way.Â
âWait for me Daddy,â you tease as you open the door behind you and are about to sneak out.Â
Elvisâ face in a flash turns from a cute boyish charm to a pale ghost. You are surprised by his sudden change of expressionand see heâs looking past your shoulder at someone else. You quickly turn around and find Dianne standing there, shell-shocked.Â
You also feel the color drain out of your face. Oh dear god your worst nightmare has come true. Youâre caught. Your secret that youâve been hiding for a month and a half has come crashing down on you. You turn back to look at Elvis. Youâre so paralyzed with fear, you donât know what to do or where to go.Â
Elvis swallows harshly and glances at you momentarily.Â
âGo ahead and get those things you needed honey, Iâm going to talk to Dianne,â he says calmly. You donât want to leave the two of them alone but you also donât want to hear her scream and yell at him.Â
âOkay, Iâll see you later baby,â you whisper. You probably shouldnât have said the pet name but you wanted to make sure Dianne knew you werenât just another woman to Elvis. You were his.Â
You turn back around and Dianne doesnât move from the doorway. She stared at your eyes defiantly and wore a snarl on her face. You brush past her and try to act like you werenât phased by her. Once you turn the corner you, feel your stomach drop. This was so bad. You couldnât deny it. You were going to hope that Elvis would put an end to all of this and it would be okay in the end. It might take some time but you two were going to be alright. You had to convince yourself of that or youâd uncontrollably cry. The sound of Dianne yelling at Elvis was the only thing you heard as you went down the elevator.Â
*
You had to calm yourself down. It was going to be okay. Just focus on the things you need to get. You find the little convenience store not too far down the hall from the elevator and try to be as normal as possible.Â
You rummage through the isles and pick up anything that you know wasnât in the bathroom. You pick up razors and shaving cream and also some better shampoo. The one that was in the shower left your hair a little rough.Â
With your hands full, you pass by the last little aisle and pick up a box of pads. You figured youâd start your period when you were staying here. Your heart stops when you start to think harder about that sentiment. You donât remember the last time you started. July? Wait, no you didnât. June? Yeah, you definitely did in June.Â
You quickly rush to the cashier and frantically set your stuff on the counter.Â
âDo you have a calendar?â The woman gives you a strange look but points to the hanging calendar behind her.Â
âCan I see it real quick ?â You ask sharply. She begrudgingly turns around and takes it off the hook. You quickly look back at the July dates and try to figure out what day you started.Â
Shit that whole month was a blur. From sneaking into Elvis's house like clockwork, watching him rehearse, the huge fight you had, working on set, and finding out about John, you didnât have time to breathe let alone realize you missed your period. You flip to June and try to remember what happened then. The tenth was the last recollection that you had when you started and went to the store to buy more pads. The rest of that month wasâŠÂ the start of your love affair. Your finger drags down to the seventeenth, you couldnât forget that night. That night you two were saying the most awful things to each other, practically ready to say goodbye forever. Then in the heat of the moment, you both gave into each otherâs feelings and would never be able to forget how much you needed him.Â
You didnât think it was possible. There was no way you could get pregnant. You and John tried for years. It just wasnât in the cards. You never had to worry about a thing and you definitely didnât feel the need to worry about being with Elvis.Â
You quickly set cash on the counter and the cashier bagged your items up. You rush out of the store and realize you have no idea where to go. Dianne was sure to still be up there yelling at Elvis and you didnât want to be anywhere near that. You decide you have no choice but to check into a room yourself. The concierge man was helpful and said there was a small room available. You didnât care how it looked you just needed a place to stay and figure out what to do. You were on the tenth floor and quickly locked the door and it felt like the whole world was closing in around you. Youâre out of breath and canât focus on anything. You get this pang of nausea and run to the bathroom, puking your lunch from earlier.Â
*Â
The next few hours were spent contemplating what to do. You wanted to see if Elvis was okay but you didnât want to intrude on anything that was going on up there. You more importantly needed to find out if your intuition was correct. There was a phone book on the desk at the corner of the room and you sifted through it to find a doctor's office. You were so nervous to make this call.Â
Someone on the other line was very kind and pleasant to talk to and made setting up an appointment easy. They had a spot at the clinic at 9 am and could get you in then. Your heart hammers away wishing this was all a delusion, but know you needed the peace of mind. You confirmed that time would work and hung up.Â
You glance at the clock and know Elvis is going to be back on stage in a few hours. You debated whether you should go tonight. A part of you wanted to go see the show, but another part of you wasnât sure if youâd be able to focus. You wanted to know how it went with Dianne and you want to tell Elvis the news you were almost sure ofâŠ
You ordered room service to be brought up to your room and even though you werenât that hungry, you needed to eat something. You barely had an appetite and you blamed it on the nerves. Everything was going to be okay, you tried to convince yourself. You were a bad liar even to yourself.Â
*
You donât remember how you got back to the hotel. You were in too much shock. You remembered staring at the doctor motionless, unable to breathe for quite some time when you told him what you were here for. This wasnât part of the plan. You never thought this could happen. The worst part was you wouldnât get the results right away. You didnât know how you were going to get through these next few days. The waiting was going to eat you alive.Â
You had to be with Elvis. He would calm your nerves and make everything better. You changed and made your way to the elevator that would take you to the penthouse. As youâre walking down the hallway, there are newspapers on the floor of every hotel door. It was folded in half and you saw a picture of Elvis and Dianne on the front of it. You roll your eyes at the picture that made your blood boil. It wasnât until you unfolded it does your heart stopped. The headline read: Elvis a taken man, secretly got married in Las Vegas chapel. Â
Your hand squeezes the paper tightly and read the same sentence over and over. This is ridiculous. It had to be some gossip newspaper, not a real one. Either way, you needed to hear it from Elvis. You march to the elevator, newspaper in hand, and finally get to the private elevator. One of the guys was standing in front of the doors and didnât make full eye contact with you when he saw the newspaper in your hand. That one look told you enough.Â
You donât say a word to him, he was smarter than to question you with the fury that was coming from you.Â
You both ride the elevator in silence and barely let the doors open to rush out into the hallway and straight to Elvisâ door. You donât bother to knock and walk right in, your head fuming with anger. Elvis is at the piano and turns back to stare at you with apprehension in his eyes.Â
âWhat the fuck is this?â You yell at him, holding up the newspaper in your hand.Â
He lets out a loud sigh and shakes his head, staying silent.Â
âAnswer me!â You say taking a step closer to him.Â
The harder you look at him, you realize there are tears in his eyes.Â
âBaby, let me explain,â he says weakly.Â
âExplain what!? Are you serious right now?!â
âI know this looks bad.â
âYeah, it does! Is any of this true?!â
He stays quiet, unable to look at you.Â
âHow could you do this to me!? After everything youâve promised me! I believed you! I really did! I was getting excited to start this new chapter with you!â
âPlease let me explain,â he snaps. You wonât let him, you were done with his empty promises.Â
âNo Elvis Iâm done. Iâm done with the lies!â
He quickly gets up from the piano and walks straight to you, holding your arms at your side.Â
âWill you stop! Listen to me. Listen to what actually happened!â He scowls.Â
You nod your head and he lets go of your arms.Â
âI told Dianne to leave. She caused a big scene especially since she found out about usâŠâ he says timidly.Â
âShe threatened to tell everyone what was going on. I couldnât have that. I didnât want that to ruin your life. After a lot of yelling I knew what I needed to doâŠâ he says shakily.Â
âYou proposed?â You snarl.Â
He flashes his eyes up at you, telling you to stop and you listen.Â
âNo, I didn't! That newspaper is a lie. At last night's show, I said how happy I was to be back on stage and how big things are on the horizon for me⊠like maybe getting ready to be married to someone in this audience.â
Your ears burn and you canât even look at him anymore.Â
âI didnât know you werenât in the audience last night, where were you, baby?â You stare at him uneasy, trying not to jump to conclusions.
âI wasnât feeling well so I didnât go, Iâm almost glad I didnât go so I wouldnât have to sit there and listen to you wanting to marry some girl you have no feelings for,â you scowl.Â
His expression on his face is so stark and somber.Â
âI donât want to marry her, I want you. Itâs always been you,â he tells you. You feel your head spin, you swear this is some dream. He kneels before you on one knee, taking your hand in his.
He continues, âBaby youâre all Iâve ever wanted. Iâm sorry Iâve been in denial for so long. I wish I could redo everything between us and treat you right. I want you. You make me a better man. Please, please marry me. I love you, baby,â he begs. You feel tears well in your eyes and you shake your head.Â
âIâve loved you for as long as I can remember. You are my everything and more. Please, I need youâŠâ his voice shaking.
You look at him in shock, the words you wanted so badly to hear finally were said but you almost didnât believe it. It was a moment like this you so desperately needed to hear. You wanted to hear you were his one and only. There was no one else you'd rather be with in this lifetimeâŠÂ but it wasnât this one where you'd get Elvis. Someone else was destined for Elvisâ love and affection.
âNo, you donât. You canât have me. Every time I think we can be together, something gets in our way. I donât think Iâm what you need,â you say weakly. He looks at you as if his heart has been ripped out. He pulls at your waist and rests his head against your stomach, trying to hold you. You keep your arms at your sides and feel your tears stream down your face. This felt like the worst feeling anyone could have. You felt his heart break and yours shattered into a million pieces. Youâll never recover from a love like this. This was a once-in-a-lifetime love.Â
Elvis looks terrified at you, not believing what you just said to him. He begins to shake his head in disbelief and his eyes well with more tears.Â
âNo baby, no you are everything to me. Please believe me,â he trembled.Â
âI think you understand why I can't believe you. Youâve lied to me before,â you say weakly. He tries to pull you in again, you can feel how desperate he is for you. He tries to soothe you, rubbing your back in slow circles, squeezing you with his arms wrapped arounf your waist, anything to try to reassure you.Â
Itâs painful, but you twist yourself out of his grasp.Â
âPlease Elvis, I canât. I need time, I need to go.â
âWhere will you go?â
âBack to California, I think,â you say unsure, realizing you don't have a place to call your own over there.Â
âOkay, stay at the Hillcrest house. Please don't fight me on this. You'll have the whole place to yourself,â he tells you.Â
You had to agree it would be a nice place to stay and somewhere safe. But in a way, you wanted to stay here in Vegas in case your suspicions were true and you got a phone call from the doctor. No, you need the space and you need to stick to your first instinct.
âOkay, Iâll go there.â
âIâll have one of my guys take you to the airport, please call me when you get there baby,â he asks you, squeezing your hand. His touch felt so good and you wanted to stay like this forever. But you pull your hand away and make your way to the door. Before you open the door, your heart cries when you hear him say:
âI love you more than youâll ever know.â
*
You settled in comfortably at the house and enjoyed the quiet. The two days by yourself were strange though. The house didnât feel like a home without Elvis. You tried to distract yourself by reading and keeping your mind off of Elvis but it was hard to do. Everything reminded you of him. You were also calling the doctorâs office every few hours if they had your results. They kept assuring you they would let you know as soon as they know but it still made you feel uneasy.Â
That day you got a knock at the door and there was a large manila envelope with your name on it. It had to be from Elvis. No one else knew you were staying here. You open it and pull out a stack of papers. They were your divorce papers andJohn had already signed them. You were taken by surprise by how quickly these were made but made you more sure that Elvis was the one who was helping you out with these. It should have taken months for these to process not a week. You didnât hesitate to sign them though. It honestly was the easiest thing to do. You had never been so sure that you could never be with John ever again.
There was a number on the envelope that would have someone pick up the papers and file them for you. You called the number and they said theyâd have someone there in an hour. You felt lighter not having to worry about that anymore. An hour went by and a courier picked up the envelope for you. Not more than five minutes later, you get a buzz from the call box that there was someone else at the gate. You were a little confused about who it could be but check to see who it was. It was another delivery man with a big cardboard box in his hands. You saw your name on the front of it with a return address to Nevada. He puts it in the entryway for you and says to be careful when moving it, itâs heavy.
You lock the door behind you and get a pair of scissors from the kitchen. You slice through the tape and find a note on top inside the package.
I have never loved someone the way I love you.
Throughout the years, my feelings have only grown despite my best efforts to move on from you. I always meant it when I say I sing for you. Because you are my true happiness. My muse. You have always been the girl Iâm singing about in any songs Iâve recorded. Every song reminds me of you. Whether it's about heartbreak or love, you are who Iâm singing it to. Even in the movies I made, there was always one song that I fought to be on the soundtrack, hoping to make you hear my plea.Â
This last album I made is for you. When I recorded this earlier in the year and before you walked back into my life, I felt that this was the final chapter for us. I had to stop fawning over you but that felt like I was grieving. Grieving for a love that I had lost. That even this âdeathâ would never stop making me love you. I hope you can still listen to me sing about you and realize how much I have been immeasurably in love with you. Iâve just been too scared to say it to your face.
Iâll love you always.
EP
Tears stream down your face, unable to comprehend what he just confessed. Heâs always been there, waiting for the right time to tell you but heâs been too scared. Oh, your heart hurts and you wish he was here to hold him. Heâs been in just as much agony as you have over him. You wipe your face and feel there is another piece of paper behind this one. You flip the pages and it's a list of song titles. Elvisâ songs. They start from his debut album all the way to his newest one.Â
I love you because
Iâll never let you go (little darlinâ)
Love Me
Anyplace Is Paradise
Loving You
Have I told you Lately That I Love You
I need you So
Make Me Know It
Fever
The Girl of My Best Friend
Dirty, Dirty Feeling
Thrill of Your Love
Sucha Night
Reconsider baby
âŠ
Iâll Hold You in My Heart
Long Black Limousine
It Keeps Right on A-hurtinâ
Iâm Movinâ on
Power of My Love
Gentle on my Mind
After Loving You
True Love Travels on a Gravel Road
Any Day Now
Suspicious Minds
Kentucky Rain
You were shocked at how many songs there were and immediately needed to revisit them. Especially his new album. Just those track titles tore at your heart. You canât believe youâve been so blind. Both of you had been so difficult but your love for him would never fade no matter the circumstances. You look back into the box and see there are dozens of Elvisâ records.Â
You push the box toward the living room where the record player is. You pull the record from the sleeve when the phone rings. You run to get it, âElvis?â You say quickly.
It sadly wasnât and it was a nurse from the doctorâs office. All you could manage to comprehend was that the test was positive. You kindly tell her thank you and hang up, feeling like you were in a daze. You were in too in shock to react right away. Everything that happened in the last few moments didnât feel like it was reality.Â
You realized you didnât have Elvisâ number to reach him in Vegas and youâd have to wait for him to callâŠ.hoping he would sooner than later.
You put his first album on and laid down on the couch, letting his beautiful voice wash over you. Some of these songs made you smile gleefully, others had you sobbing your eyes out. You could feel how desperately he wanted you, how he ached to have an ounce of your love.
His latest album had you on the floor beside yourself. His voice sounded incredible and full of pain and sorrow at times. You played those songs over and over and over again. It was well after 2 am and you let Elvisâ voice ring out loudly through the house. You saw him in a new light, everything he did was about you. You couldnât image your life without him or cause him such sorrow anymore.Â
The sound of the front door creaking open makes you pop up and run to see who is trying to come inside. Your heart flies out of your chest when you see him. He was dressed in a chocolate brown suit, nothing on underneath that jacket. He holds his breath when sees your red, puffy eyes, your mascara smudged down your cheeks.
âOh darlinâ,â he breathes, quickly rushing to you and taking you into his arms.
You cling onto him for dear life, relishing in his closeness to him. You couldnât imagine being able to cry anymore but you do. You were holding back your true feelings and the dam broke. It felt so good to be near him again. He completed you in every aspect and couldnât imagine being away from him for another second.Â
You pull yourself from his chest and look up into his tear-filled eyes.
âI-I donât know how I have been so blind,â you whisper.
âNo honey, donât blame yourself. It was me, I should be the one that apologized for being blind. How could I ever think Iâd get over you,â he murmurs, leaning down to kiss your lips. You feel this fire ignite inside you. He made you feel alive and whole. You wrap your arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. He grumbles against your lips and holds your body against his. You feel dizzy with the way heâs kissing you and know thereâs more you need to say to him.
âBaby wait,â you say breathlessly. He nods his head and leads you to the couch. He sits down next to you and holds your hand in his lap.
âYour album is amazing, IÂ love every single song,â you say sweetly.
He bashfully shakes his head and looks down, âNo I-I- just- I had to share how I was feeling. I havenât listened to it fully.â
âItâs just so wonderful, itâs made me cry and smile and so much more. I could feel the love you have,â you say shakily.
âItâs always been you, honey, always. Iâm so sorry Iâve never told you before this. Iâm sorry for putting you through all this strife.â
âItâs okay, I believe you. I know you love me and I love you too. I have been in agony wanting you to love me the same way I love you. But now I know you have, you have for so long.â
âYes, honey, God that is the best thing Iâve ever heard come from your lips.â He kisses you again and you smile against his lips.
âWhat are you doing here? You have to rest for your shows,â you say worriedly.
âI couldnât rest another day without seeing you. All I could see was your hurt eyes when you left. It killed me, IÂ couldnât have you feeling like that.â
âIâm sorry I didnât believe you, I wish I was at your show and celebrate you.â
âDonât worry, you have nothing to apologize for. Itâs me who has to beg for forgiveness for treating you like this all these years.â He leans in to kiss you again and you can feel how much he wants you. You couldnât deny him anything. You were all his, forever.
He pulls you into his lap and has you straddle his hips. You feel the heat in between your legs build and you sigh into his mouth. You wanted him to stay this close to you all the time and give you all his love. You kiss each other slowly then build more passionately. You slip your hands into his jacket and feel his smooth skin. It was obsessional and you wanted to lick every inch of him.
âIâll marry you,â you breathe into his mouth. He squeezes you tightly and has you look at him. He has a smile on his face and his chest heaves for air.Â
âOh baby, yes, that would make me the happiest man on earth. Youâre all I want,â he sighs as he goes in for another kiss. You groan against him and tangle your hands in his hair, pulling him as close as you can.
You feel him push against your core and whimper.Â
âIâll take care of you forever baby. Just you and I.â
You nod your head at him and feel your heart gallop when you look at him.
âPlease do, just the three of us,â you whisper.
He looks at you a bit confused, not understanding what youâre saying. You take a deep breath and bring his hand to the front of your stomach. He looks at you in shock and takes a sharp breath in.
âOh my god honey? I thought you-,â he begins to ask.
âI know, I did too. But I went to the doctor and itâs true honey.â
âIâm so happy baby, I canât believe it. I love you so much,â he sighs pulling you in for another passionate kiss.
You melt into him and feel so at peace with him. You were finally content. There was nothing else in this world you wanted. You had Elvis wrapped around you, kissing you and promising you forever. Forever would never be enough time to spend with him, but you were more than happy to start your little slice of forever with him.
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