As she tookher final bow, my Eras-less future was feeling pretty bleak.
Scrolling through social media, I saw I wasnt alone.
Tours end all the time, so why did this sting so much?
Probably because, for many fans, it was the safest theyd ever felt in public.
It was more like therapy or a spiritual gathering than a concert.
I got hooked on the magic in May 2023, when I attended my first concert in Nashville.
Before long,the merchstarted to pile up, as didfriendship braceletsand glitter palettes.
I even left my family twice for international shows.
Many fans made more dramatic sacrifices.
She still made it.
Everyone had their own reasons for making the pilgrimage.
It was the healing balm she needed after a traumatic year.
She allows us to create our own story for whatever we need in our lives from what she creates.
The1989section transported me back to becoming a mom, playing Wildest Dreams as I nursed my son to sleep.
(Screaming f*ck the patriarchy with 60,000 people certainly didnt hurt.)
Fandom often brings people together, but Ive been struck by the safety people felt.
Kelly Long, a 32-year-old customer support manager from Raleigh, North Carolina, attended the show in Munich.
She says Swifties helped distribute water when it was hot.
The environment also providedemotionalsafety.
Obviously, many fans couldnt attend the shows in person, but the community also existed online.
Other fans, likeNick Braun, found niche elements of the tour to bond over, likethe costumes.
During each concert, the 22-year-old content creator hosted TikTok live events focused on the outfits.
(Once, more than 900,000 people tuned in.)
We bore witness to it.
In this analogy, Taylor Swift isnt God.
I dont think shed want to be.
(Read the lyrics to Dear Reader and youll get it.)
I couldnt be more proud of you.
