I made a mistake in my life today / everything I love gets lost in the drawers / I want to start over, I want to be winning / way out of sync from the beginning
SLOW SHOW / KEVIN DAY (AFTG)
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I chase the light that chases you.
How cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling.
Emily Brontë 𐦍༘⋆ Wuthering Heights
Aileen Hemmick-Nielsen's mother used to say: it's you and me and nobody else. Rachel Hemmick carefully manufactured their lives so they would only revolve around two things - each other and cheerleading. It was woven into the fabric of her being, an all-consuming passion that dictated her ambitions, her fears, and even her sense of self-worth. From the thrill of executing a flawless routine to the bitter sting of defeat, cheerleading shaped her every thought and action. It wasn't just about competition or accolades; it was a lifeline, a way to channel her energy and emotions into something tangible and exhilarating. For Aileen, the world beyond cheerleading (and, by extension, her mother) seemed distant and unfamiliar—a realm where desires outside the confines of the mat held little allure or clarity.
But if there's a lesson that neither of them had ever learned, it was this: ambition is a double-edged word. Her mother's ambitions consumed them both until there was nothing left but the ruins of what once was a dream they shared. And even though Aileen later pulled through despite the scrutiny, her mother's shadow was never far behind, and she soon saw her dreams sidelined once again. The only difference was... this time it was her fault. When you are desperate and afraid, you don't know any better.
Enter Kevin Day.
Kevin is the constant presence that underscores her imperfections with every calculated move and measured word. He embodies everything she thinks she isn't: disciplined, controlled, a master of his own destiny. Where Kevin exudes a calm precision, Aileen is a whirlwind of reckless emotion. She sees in him a mirror reflecting her own chaos, a stark contrast that she can't ignore. They are as different as lightning and stone. In Kevin's unwavering focus, Aileen sees the shadows of her own lost battles and missteps, the relentless pursuit that led her to stray from her path.
