They were at the venue, walking around, not feeling very safe or loved. Not necessarily just there, but in life in general. It’s almost like they didn’t have a true sense of identity or a feeling of acceptance. It wasn’t right; feeling that way should be forbidden.
It was at these concert venues though, in every moment, whether big or small, where Niki was put back on their feet. They gained a sense of belonging and a chosen forever family where they felt seen and loved again. They were lost then found and safe and sound through the safety and sounds of Louis, Harry, and Niall. They were saved – and they even had the unique, unexpected opportunity of seeing and helping another experience this as well – with 18 lives.
Louis – Amsterdam – April 2, 2022
Niki’s first concert of Louis’/any of the boys from 1D. They met their best friend at the show. They asked a question through X (Twitter) and they met the day before the show; they are still one of their best friends. Projects included Kill My Mind balloons and Only the Brave flags. “It was the first time I ever felt safe about myself during a show,” Niki said. They also got a notice from Louis through a sign that someone in their group was holding.
Harry – Antwerp – July 7, 2022
Niki’s first Harry show. The concert had a fan project for Cinema. “I got my TPWK and triangle tattoo right before the show,” Niki said.
Louis – Lokeren – August 14, 2022
According to Niki, the day was very hot and they burned their legs on the concrete when they waited to be let into the venue. They had a sign that they had a gift, which did get them a notice from Louis, but unfortunately they were unable to get him the gift. Despite all of this, “It was my first and last festival I’ve ever done and I had the best time of my life,” Niki said.
Harry – Amsterdam – June 4-6, 2023
June 4 – Niki came out during this show with Harry’s help. “The people around me were really, really nice, and at one point, I decided to show the sign and tell them I planned to do it if I had the confidence,” Niki said. “They were all very supportive.” When the sign segment came, they held it up and the people who knew screamed and shined their flashlights on the sign. According to Niki, “Everyone was so cheerful and screaming and partying along with me and I had never felt that safe in a group of people.”
They also felt that sense of love and safety from Harry. “When he took my flag to start the whole coming out ritual he created himself for the shows he said the words, ‘This is your, this is your time. No one else here. It’s me and you.’ When he said that, I felt so loved and seen for the first time in a long time by someone else besides my 2 best friends.”
Niki noted that the show was extra memorable because they met many people and were able to experience the flower throw for Grapejuice. It was also special because they heard Medicine live for the first time, all while being in Johnny’s place. “This show as some many know already was special for me but this made it the best show ever!”
June 5 – The dream continued!
June 6 – Niki held up a sign thanking Harry for helping them come out and he gave them a thumbs up in acknowledgement. They stood in the first few rows from the stage during the show and met many people again, including a friend of Chris Olsen.
Harry – London – June 13-14 and 16-17, 2023
June 13 – Niki’s first time at Wembley. They have amazing memories of Sign of the Times and Fine Line on the floor. Harry sang Little Freak, which has special meaning to them.
June 14 – The dream continued! Harry sang Boyfriends.
June 16 – For a second time, Niki and their friends had the opportunity to stand in the first few rows from the stage. They were recognized by Harry. Harry sang Boyfriends again and Love of My Life.
June 17 – There was a fan project for a rainbow for Matilda. “It wasn’t the best we’ve seen but we still did it and it made me sob a bit. It was special to see this happening with my own eyes for once,” Niki said. Harry sang Sweet Creature, which is another song with a special meaning. “It is the song I always sang to my cat when he had anxiety or felt uneasy, and it’s become our song. So when Harry sang the song in Wembley after 6 days of being apart from my cat, I cried my eyes out. That meant the world to me.”
Louis – Hamburg – August 29, 2023
Niki pointed out that “There were balloons for Kill My Mind. It was supposed to be only Kill My Mind but I have clips even from Face the Music with that balloon in it.” Niki, who is from the Netherlands, noted that being in a different country made the show even more memorable. “It was very special to be in another country seeing him shine. German shows are in my opinion always fun to watch. So to be there was very cool!”
Louis – Antwerp – October 12, 2023
“Met new ‘friends’ in the queue and met up with a follower that is still my friend till this day,” Niki said. This is the show where Niki was able to experience another being saved, so I’ll come back to it shortly!
Louis – Amsterdam – October 15, 2023
Niki noted that they had a nice talk with other fans in the queue and around them in the venue. “Someone behind me made a picture and I’m on that with Lou which makes this show a little more special again,” they said.
Louis – Cologne – October 15, 2023
This was the first Louis show where Niki had seats. “It was fun especially to see barricade from that angle. Also the rainbow lights during SIBWAWC were pretty to see, a memory I always carry with me,” they said.
Louis – London – November 17, 2023
“I met with my Twitter friend. We do Larry updates together on our own accounts. She does the daytime and I do the nighttime. It was amazing to finally meet her and her friend,” Niki said. They went on to say, “We (my best friend and I that did all the shows together) for the first time did a party in the back and it was the best show to do it for. The lasers were amazing to see from that far.” Niki revealed that they always dreamed of going to the O2 Arena. Now they were able to be there AND see Louis. “A memory I always cherish, to see him in the O2 surrounded by my friends!”
Louis – Birmingham – November 18, 2023
It was an exciting and memorable moment for Niki and their friend when, after they saw Louis on the screen, they realized he had a new tattoo. There were some emotional moments, too. “It was a bittersweet show because I knew it was the last time I would see him for a long time, which made me sad but also so happy I was able to see him 8 times,” they said. “Two years before that I would’ve never thought I would see him ever… I felt blessed.”
Niall – Antwerp – March 7, 2024 and Amsterdam (N2) – March 28, 2024
It’s perfectly fitting that this show journey ended with Niall. It was a full circle moment. “These concerts were a dream come true,” Niki said. “He’s the one that got me into the fandom. He caught my eye, that made me click the first 1D video and the rest is history.”
Speaking of full circle moments…back to Louis’ Antwerp show, where this amazing moment happened. It sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
“[My best friend and I] rescued a cat walking around the venue. We noticed someone tried to take it but she didn’t seem to react good on the people. So we were like something is wrong,” Niki said. Their friend took the cat to a vet and she didn’t see a chip. “It’s illegal in Belgium to have a pet without a chip. So we knew for sure she was a street cat.”
Niki’s friend kept the cat for a night and then took her to a facility (similar to a shelter) that places cats into the right home. “Louise, as we called the cat, got a home as soon as she was cleared to get a forever home,” Niki said.
Both Niki, and the cat formerly and appropriately known as Louise, were lost and found. Niki felt seen and loved again, through everything from their coming out, to meeting new people, to being noticed by Louis and Harry, to hearing special songs (especially one they share with their cat); through pretty much everything about these shows. They gained a chosen family and a truer sense of who they are. The cat seemed to be wandering through life alone and without an identity. Through the help of Niki, who has two cats of their own, she now has a forever family and a warm, new home.
There’s a saying that cats always land on their feet. I was curious about this, so I did some quick research. According to Purina, cats have a balancing system called the “righting reflex” that, while it doesn’t guarantee they land on their feet (this can be affected by the height of the fall, etc.), it allows them to orient themselves when not in their normal, upright position to land the right way. For Niki and the cat, I believe they found a “righting reflex,” a balancing system, through their new forever family and sense of self. They were put back on their feet – to stand upright – but if they do fall, they have the support they need to turn their life around to the way it needs to be.
This “righting reflex” is also one of the reasons for the idea that cats have nine lives. Sure, it’s deeply rooted in folklore and is just a myth, but I believe that if it had any truth to it, the cat that Niki helped save would have 18 lives. She was born with nine lives, but since she now has a new life and identity, she was saved…with 18 lives. The same goes for Niki. These eight Louis, eight Harry, and two Niall concerts ultimately lifted them back up to feel, and be, safe and loved again. They were saved…with 18 lives.
