CRAZY DANCER
rhythm of classical music floated through the air, blending with the sound of bare feet brushing lightly across the ground. Twelve-ye
with fluidity, and her eyes sparkled with t
d her mother, Evelyn James. She watched her daughter with awe, her heart swelling every time Li
ntly. "You're going to wear th
y but refusing to stop. "Just on
tea down and clapping along. "One m
k into motion, her pink nightgown flutterin
presence and words. Her father, Mr. James, was often away early handling business at
ed onto the couch, her hair sticking to her
from her daughter's brow. "You don't just dance. You speak with
hink I can become a re
st think so
e's heart like glue-warm,
early for once, joking about how burnt the roast was, though it was anything but. Lizzie sat between them, swinging her legs
nother classmate with your 'unstoppable force
cheeks flushed. "I w
med in. "As long as you don't end
oked at t
it," her father warned
back down. Life was
n... it
k, Evelyn complai
tor turned into a string of hospital tests. Lizzie was kept home more, ofte
called to ask Lizzie what m
o matter what," she al
romi
n the living room couch, her feet sore from practicing in si
call knew even befo
en people whispered condolences or said Evelyn was "in a better place." She stood li
t dance f
both of them curled on the living room floor. He kept whi
were neve
Year
her rem
thin lips and sharp, assessing eyes. She had two daughters, Tina and Mara, both a few years
er father was beaming. "You'll fi
ide hug. "And I'll take care of
breath at the back of her neck.
moving in, her r
music was removed f
worn slippers were t
ly. "It's not proper anymore. Dancing won't h
itch off her music halfway through her practices and pour water on her costumes.
of water and said calmly, "If you ever tell your father about t
odded, t
idn't
left early, returned late, and tho
isse would say. "Girls h
lieve
ht, when the house fell quiet, she locked her door, turned
e she felt like her
ars Late
r ballet shoes stuffed inside though she no longer had a studio
ges, inside old bus stops, or in
ops. There, music echoed from an old Bluetooth speaker she had hidden beneath a bench.
ure standing at the far e
he wall with headphones hanging around his neck. He had stopped in that alley
en he
stiff routines, and ego. But this girl... this
fire in her turns, and a despe
ke that, sh
lking home, crossing a busy junct
, and her books sca
she gasped, kneeling
help. "It's okay.
ds brushe
ced up. The
thing flickered in her c
shook
mumbled and
watching her disap
owed hi
we met