AngelFall (Larry Stylinson)

Lights will guide you home

Harry had a grueling day filled with all kinds of challenges, hard work, and an overwhelming amount of stress that led to a rollercoaster of emotions leaving him at the end of the day drained of all powers and exhausted. As a third-year student at the prestigious "University of Theater, Choreography, and Multimedia Arts" today marked the pivotal moment when he was required to deliver his one-hour dance performance, serving as the initial examination that signified the commencement of his third university year. All students were required to take this particular exam and deliver a one-hour presentation in order to assess their progress or regression so that teachers could then use the results to identify areas that needed improvement and to pinpoint specific students who required extra attention.

Over the past two months, Harry had been following a strict diet aimed at defining his muscles and getting rid of any remaining body fat he had left. His goal was to lose weight to improve his stage performance and maybe to reduce his waist circumference by one centimeter, hopefully.

He knew Mother Nature had gifted him with a strikingly prominent muscular build, showcasing expansive broad shoulders that transitioned into strong muscular arms (with a very impressive girth) and he was also well aware that even if he resorted to wearing a corset, his waist would still be barely visible. He knew that, but he always dreamed of having a smaller waist, not overly defined but with a subtle curve that would give his physique a more feminine and graceful appearance. Over time he had learned to accept himself exactly as God made him, however, that didn't mean he was free of complexes and insecurities but at least nowadays he had stopped blaming the universe for everything he found unpleasant in his appearance.

This is precisely why he made the decision to study ballet. Not with the intention of securing a future career in this special discipline, but rather because ballet, in its essence, resonated with his inner being and helped him to accept himself easier and gain a little more self-confidence -hopefully- with each day passing. It served as a medium through which he could freely articulate his thoughts and emotions without any inhibitions, overcoming the barriers of his innate shyness and the societal constraints he faced on a daily basis.

As Harry woke up that morning, the weight of anticipation pressed down on him like a heavy blanket. Despite the countless hours of grueling rehearsals, he couldn't shake off the feeling of immense pressure that hit him when the alarm went off that morning. Known for his exceptional dedication to precision and thoroughness, Harry has spent the last two months carefully examining and enhancing every aspect of his physical and mental well-being. This involved regular exercise, a strict and well-balanced diet, meditation, and seeking professional guidance from his mentor whenever he felt it was necessary. He also made a conscious effort to engage in gym activities and jogging sessions, dedicating every minute of his day to a purpose.

Same rule applied to all students so they were all required to undergo a rigorous performance regimen as a vital component of their academic curriculum. This regimen included a comprehensive showcase consisting of a thirty-minute duet, followed by a second solo performance that filled the remaining thirty minutes of the full hour allocated for each and every one of them.

Upon entering the building, he briskly made his way to the locker room, eager to change into his attire and kick off his warm-up routine. From his gym bag, he retrieved his pristine white tights and a matching tank top, pondering whether to go all the way and wear that white veil garment that served as a skirt. Harry found great satisfaction and was completely captivated by the responsiveness of the delicate fabric that managed to mirror his every movement with a slight and mesmerizing delay, adding an extra layer of allure and drama to his performance. Although he was accustomed to wearing it during classes and rehearsals, this time was different, this was an examination and not only would Mr. Aminov be present, but also five other esteemed teaching staff from various dance schools and the director of Moscow's most prestigious dance academy, who also happened to be a close friend of his teacher Mikhail.