October 18 in Chicago was all supposed to be a triumphant night: two R&B icons, Brandy and Monica, finally sharing a stage together after more than two decades of myth and the enduring legacy of their 1998 hit. Their tour, aptly named for that very song, was advertised as a celebration of adulthood, sisterhood, and simply nostalgia. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostBut in the middle of the Chicago show at the United Center, Brandy abruptly exited the stage. What began as euphoria from the crowd soon turned into confusion and concern when the pair's performance was abruptly halted without their identifying duet.Brandy issues an apology and reveals the reason behind abruptly leaving stageVideo shot during the performance shows Brandy freeze mid-tune, declare"Give me one second, y'all…" and head to the sound booth and disappear from view. Monica went on, but the crowd never heard"The Boy Is Mine," a staple of their reunion tour.Shortly thereafter, Brandy released a statement stating that following weeks of constant rehearsals, she had become dehydrated and was getting faint, and that the entire team concurred that her health must take precedence. She further stated that she did continue to try to power through, but that technical problems with the show made it impossible for her to become fully acclimated to the show's sound and ultimately made continuation impossible.Her appreciation of Monica's professionalism and the help from the crew also showed up in the message. The post rapidly became viral, being shared by fan accounts and entertainment websites alike, because of the surprise nature of the interruption and great expectations surrounding this reunion. The incident hit headlines not only for the surprise exit but also for what it says about live performances in the social media era: fans live-tweet in the moment, moments are subject to analysis, and silence is impossible.Particularly, this is not a spontaneous tour date; it's the first night of a grand return for both acts, who are reunited for the first time on a co-headlining tour of North America. Thus, the interruption in Chicago had extra weight: the fans who had invested in the live-concert experience felt shortchanged, and the optics of an incomplete show sat heavily on both the performers and the audience.Overall, the Chicago disruption could have been disappointing. It also reflects how much this reunion means to both Monica and Brandy, and that they are serious about presenting something special. While the disturbance was not welcome, the choice in the interest of health is a compelling statement about the artist's well-being in the live music world. Fans will be holding their breath for the Indianapolis show and beyond with hopes, hopes, and perhaps just a pinch more understanding.