Breaking Point [Watty's 2015]

The Before

"Next!" I heard the judge panel call.

I stood up out of my chair, shaking like mad. I was up.

I took a weary but determined step towards the door, and then another. And another.

Come on, Aria, you got this, I told myself. You can do this. You will do this.

"NEXT!" yelled the judges again. I took a shivering breath, and entered the gymnasium.

I could feel the judges eyeing me as I stepped onto the "designated stage area" and adjusted my leotard. "Aria Toldanas-Barry," I said to the judges, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Alright, Aria," said the woman on the left, "show us what you've got."

I took another breath and began my routine. One, two, three, step, one, two, three, four, twirl, jump, pike, first, then jump, spin... I quickly got lost in the music and the movements, and almost forgot there was a set of judges watching me meticulously from across the room. For that moment, that didn't matter. All that mattered was the dance. My dance.

One, two, three, pike, twist, jump, twirl, land, and...fifth position! 

I landed elegantly onto the dirty floor as reality sunk in around me. The audition was over. I either made it into the academy, or I didn't. 

This was huge.

"Thank you very much, Miss Aria, and we'll contact you when we've made our decision," said the second judge absentmindedly, as though he'd said it a million times already.

"Thank you," I said quickly, and rushed out of the room.

"You did it!" cried my mom from across the waiting room, and ran to give me a huge hug.

"Mom...can't...breathe!" I squeaked as her hug crushed me.

"Oh, yes, that, sorry," she said, quickly stepping away. "I'm just so proud of my little baby girl!"

"Not so much of a wee baby anymore, huh, Tamara?" my dad chuckled as he walked across the room to meet us.

My mom smiled through her tears, walked towards the door, and said, "Come on, Aria. Let's head home."