𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 2022

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒊𝒏𝒆

"And a one,  and a two, and a three, and four, five, six, seven, eight, and spin! Well done guys let's take it from the top,"

It was another glorious Wednesday evening. The sun was slowly setting and I was indoors at our private gym with the rest of the ballerina.

We were all dancing our hearts out following the step and the instructor, Miss Mayowa Da-Costa. She really was the best ballet dancer I have ever seen. The way she brings new routines and new ideas to the ballet class like she was a Fountain of endless ideas was pretty amazing.

"Alright, guys. We are doing good. We are doing good, okay, but we need to be better and most importantly have FUN while doing it,"

I smiled to myself as the memory of how I joined this ballet class came to my mind. I remember it so vividly like it was yesterday. Funny enough, I was 9 at the time. So scared of the world around me. So full of certain uncertainty as I was just learning of my reading disabilities which explained why I never excelled in my academics like my age mates.

I was too young, too scared to know what to do or how to handle it. More importantly, how my parents were going to handle this news.

At first, they all acted numb towards me including my siblings. They were all pushing me away like I had a deadly disease. With time it got worse, my parents will either punish me for something I certainly and clearly didn't do. Sometimes my siblings will purposely frame me just so I can get into trouble and sometimes it backfires. It got to a point I couldn't take it anymore and I did what my instinct told me to do even though it wasn't the best idea or probably wasn't a rational thing to do. I still did it anyway.

On the night before the 30th of May, the day before my birthday. I ran away from home fearing for the worst was out to get me. I had by accident heard the evil plot my family had for me and it was soo horrifying that I doubt I would be able to live to tell the tales. I did what my instinct told me to do and I ran for my dear life from Oyo state down to Lagos.

It wasn't an easy journey. I was robbed, kidnapped, and almost raped several times but thanks to the God I served, there was always an escape route for me.

After the exhausting 2 days trip that I made on foot, I arrived at Lagos with absolutely nothing on me just the clothes I was currently wearing which looked a lot like a piece of rag. It was the first of June already, my birthday and I was too tired, hungry, and hopeless that I passed out of exhaustion and fainted at the doors of this same private Gym where Miss Mayowa Da-Costa found me.

I was still out of consciousness when she rushed me to the hospital immediately and after several treatments, I ended having an ulcer at that very tender age. Sadly, it all happened on my birthday 1st of June, 2010.

It wasn't untill 10 pm that night before I finally let Miss Da-Costa know that it was my birthday. She was shocked and felt sympathy for me. I ended up crying my eyes out that night as I told her my story. She consoled me the best way she could and promised she would forever have my back no matter what happened.

The next day, she took me to this same private GYM I am standing in today and it was here I felt love as first sight as I saw a girl who looks way younger than me dancing ballet. It was at that moment I knew I was going to learn how to dance ballet as well and I enrolled in her class as it became my passion.

The sound of applause brought me out of my thoughts. I had completely forgotten about the world that exists around me, as I went down memory lane. I keept on dancing, using my feet, my arm, and my chest as my body moved to express all of these emotions I had bottled inside. All the emotions I never told anyone about. All that and much more, I expressed it all through dancing ballet.

Continuously, while in the class with Miss Mayowa Da-Costa's remaining students right there and then. The applause got louder and even some already had their phones out as they were recording my dancing.

It was then I began to feel conscious as I opened my eyes to meet theirs.

"Maddylen! My goodness! When did you learn to twirl and twist and... and... Lord! It's like I don't even know you anymore,"

Miss Da-Costa exclaimed with so much excitement and all I could do was leave my mouth hanging open because I didn't know why or what exactly they were so excited about.

"Oh my Goodness. All this while I was thinking of a grand intro for the competition when you were Standing in the center all along. Maddylen Adeyemi Coker, will you be our solo intro for the competition?"

I was stunned. I didn't think this was how things were going to go. I mean to me it was just dancing, pulling a few moves everyone here can make. Before I got the chance to decide, they had already gathered around me looking at me with pleading eyes as they all said in unison.

"Oh please, Maddylen. You're the only one strong enough to go solo,"

"I really don't know... I..."

"Oh, please... Maddylen, please. Say yes, you're our winning charm!"

"What there is no such thing and what about her,"

I said pointing to the one girl that always goes head to head with me in ballet but every time it's all a tie or not even a competition to begin with.

Everyone was quiet as they all turned to her, expecting something dramatic but they were all shocked when she said,

"It's alright. I've had my time to shine. Now it's your turn,"

I was shocked again. Not knowing how to handle the situation as everyone surrounded me and they were all talking to me at the same time. I just squeezed my eyes shut and yelled a response to make sure my voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I can't! I am so sorry, guys,"

They were immediately quiet because nobody thought I would reject such an offer, especially because it's my first time.

Miss Mayowa was shocked at my outburst as well. So she decided to question me saying.

"Is there a reason why you are rejecting this amazing offer? You can tell us. Bring us to the knowledge as to why you refuse to go solo,"

"Umm... Well, for starters. I'll be having the exam for the rest of that month and months to come and I will need all the concentration I can get. Two, my aunty and uncle are a tough nut to crack, even tougher than my own parents who have unfortunately gone into the light. Sooo..."

"Sooo, I will help you,"

Stephine, my dance partner said and Jessica her close friend agreed to it as well saying

"Whatever it takes. We are willing to help and go through it with you because if you will, we all win,"

I smiled softly at her too speechless to say a word. I closed my eyes to reminisce the moment and after a while, I finally answered.

"Okay. I guess I'll... yeah, I'll do it!"

They all squealed and rushed to hug me knocking me off my feet in the process. We kept on with the rehearsals until it was past 7 and we all had to go home.

Miss Mayowa offered me a ride as usual and I knew better than to refuse it.

We decided to stop at sweet sensation to get something to eat. Once we were done eating, she paid for our food and we headed out.

She dropped me home first before going to hers. Too tired to do anything or look for anyone I just dragged myself to my room and crashed on the bed.