[Music] Stay with me. Don’t go away. Please don’t let this be our last day. Hold on tight. Just one more. [Music] Hi, my name is Emily. I’m 6 years old. My big brother’s name is Jacob. He’s 11. We don’t live in a house. We sleep in a van behind a diner. It’s not warm. We have two blankets. He always gives me the better one.
He says, “Little sisters go first. Our mom left when I was two. I don’t remember her. Our dad got sick last year. He died in his sleep. Since then, it’s just been me and Jacob. He takes care of me. He finds food. He makes me laugh. He calls me his songbird because I sing all the time. We used to sing together outside the train station.
I sang and he played this old bucket with drumsticks he found in the trash. People gave us coins, sometimes a dollar. We saved every bit for food, for gas, for medicine. A few months ago, Jacob started feeling tired. He said his legs felt weird. Then he got really pale. He couldn’t stop throwing up.

We went to a clinic. They ran tests. Then they told us it was cancer. Stage four. I didn’t understand at first, but when Jacob looked away and wiped his face, I knew it was bad. He started getting worse. He can’t walk anymore. He’s in a wheelchair now. There’s a tube in his arm with medicine, but it doesn’t seem to help much.
He gets cold really fast. Sometimes he can’t breathe right, but he still smiles when I sing. I keep singing on the street. I sing near the corner with the busy light. Sometimes people stop. Some cry. Some give us money. All I want is to help Jacob. One day a lady heard me. She recorded me on her phone. She said she was going to post it online.
I didn’t know what that meant, but then someone called us. They said they saw the video. They asked if I wanted to sing on a big stage. I told Jacob. He said, “You have to go.” I told him I wouldn’t go without him. So, they said we could come together. Today we are here. Jacob’s really weak. He almost didn’t come. But he told me, “I want to hear you sing one more time.
” So I I’m here. I’m going to sing our favorite song. It’s the one I used to sing when we were cold in the van. It’s the one he always asked for. This is for Jacob. This is for every brother who ever gave up their blanket. This is for every kid who’s scared but still holding on. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
The doctors said not much time, but I want this moment to be good. I want Jacob to smile one more time. So, this is for him, for my big brother, for the best person I ever knew. I’m ready. Let’s sing. Best of luck. We used to draw stars in the dirt and laugh when we’d fall. Even when it hurt, you held my hand in every game and whispered it’s okay.

When they said my name, now your eyes stay closed too long. But I’m still here strong. If my voice could heal your pain, I’d sing it over and over again. Stay with me. Don’t go away. Please don’t let this stay. Just one more song. I need you here where you belong. Stay with me. Stay with me. I don’t want toys. I don’t want cake.
I just want you when I wait. I don’t care about birth and stay. You’re my best friend. You’re my home. Don’t leave me singing all along. Come back. Please just squeeze my hand. I’ll never let go. I understand. Stay with me. Don’t go away. Please don’t. Hold on tight. Just one more song. I need you here where you belong.

Stay with me. Stay with me. I sang on street so you could eat. Now I sing here by your sea. They gave us lights and gave us time. But all I wanted for you to be mine. I know you’re tire see your face, but I still feel your gentle grace. If you can’t run, that’s okay. Just breathe with me. Please stay. [Applause] [Music] They say some stories end too soon, but we still haven’t watch cartoons.
You promise me a rocket ride. I kept that drawing by my side. I’ll take your pain. I’ll carry your fear. I just need you to stay right here. Even if you can’t stand or play, just don’t let go. Not today. Stay with me. Don’t go away. Please don’t let this be our last day. Hold on tight. Just one more song.
I need you here where you belong. Stay with me. Please stay with me.