WORK IN PROGRESS: The Dancer

The End

I stepped into the studio after a successful day of research in the student lobby. This research involved starting a debate between the psychology students and the law students on what was the ethical way to toss someone out of your apartment that you weren't going to be living in anyway... maybe.

The results of the debate were yet to be decided. I think the medical students were getting ready in the wings for the clean up. But I'd taken advantage of my finances and booked a hotel room nearby. A shower and change of clothes had done wonders for me.

I stood at the sidelines watching the class. My cousin looked good, and Juliette had a bit of a belly. I think I might have missed out on some news along the way. Juan came out of the dressing room. He still looked handsome, his figure as trim as always. But he looked sad. He'd lost some vibrancy. Emma came out behind him, shining bright as always.

I watched as she tapped him on the arm and turned to step on the dance floor. He paused a moment to check his phone, and sighed. She huffed and snapped at him. He just lifted his head to look at the entry door, before shoving the phone in his pocket and taking the floor. They effortlessly picked up the dance and floated around the floor.

I checked my phone. It was flat. Oops. I forgot that I needed it here. Then I was announced.
"OH MY GOD DESTINY!!!!!!!!!"
Juliette found me. She ran over in her heels with her arms wide open. Steven raced her with the unfair avatantage of not having to wear heels, and got to me first. He spun me and then dumped me in front of his wife. Juliette squeezed me tightly.
"You're home!!! When did you get back? So good to see you!! Gosh you're brown!"

I was tackled from her arms by a stunning side tackle. I'd seen the indigenous kids play footy and this was one of the best. It was around the shoulders, smothering my arms so I couldn't move, and if I had a ball, I definitely wouldn't be passing it. Free kick for sure.

Only footy tackles didn't happen with the chant of "Juan get back here! We're PRACTICING!"
The person doing the tackle also didn't usually sound like they were sobbing, unless they were really really unfit. Also tackles were supposed to end up with both participants on the ground, not both of us upright in a wierd sort of death grip.

My opponent finally seemed to have found his voice, but forgotten all words except my name. Juan held me tightly with one arm pinning my waist to him and the other holding my back and neck. His face was buried in my shoulder, and he was chanting my name.

"Why didn't you tell us she was back, Juan?" Steven clasped him on the back.
"I didn't know, I didn't know," he replied, finally letting me go, only to grip my face and kiss me like a first aider who had only learnt mouth to mouth from a text book written by a 15 year old boy. "Oh meu Bem, meu Vida, I missed you, I missed you so much."
"JUAN! GET BACK HERE!! DESTINY, WE HAVE PRACTICE. STOP DISTRACTING HIM!"
Juan was suddenly yanked back away from me. But he spun out of her grip.
"Another day Emma. Destiny, she's home." He returned to me, attempting to slide his arms around me. I held up my hands to ward him off this time. I had warning of his arrival this time.
"Woah, woah, steady there." I said as I slid back.
"When did you get back?" Juliette asked again. This time I got to answer.
"This morning."
"But you didn't come home!"
I turned and looked Juan in the eye.
"I did." I replied, "you were asleep, and so was Emma."
"Emma?!" Steven's voice hissed. "What was Emma doing there?"
"She sleeps in the guest room." Juan shrugged.
"That's not the point! She shouldn't be there at all!"

"Leave it, Steven." I sighed. "It doesn't matter. Not anymore."
"What do you mean? Emma's in your space." Steven was winding up to lose his temper.
"Excuse me!! I'm right here!!"

I watched my cousins face change. His lip creased up into a snarl. His eyes tightened, and a sinister growl started at the back of his throat as he slowly, incrementally, turned to the shining light who spoke. The bright spark that Emma was, and basking finally in the attention that she sought, she decided to continue her demands.
"If you've got something to say, then say it to my face!"

Unfortunately the fake polite, best friend to your face, back stabbing bitch to your arse thing was never my style.
"Ok," I agreed, my voice the epitome of sweetness and light. "You have until 9am tomorrow morning to get out of my apartment. Because I'm moving back in, and Juan needs the bed you're sleeping in."

Steven's face moved from angry to astonished. Juan's reaction was different. He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.
"Destiny! What are you saying?"

The social dancing was forgotten, apart from one lovely old couple who had given up on the choreography and were just moving together around the floor to the music. They didn't care about the drama unfolding in my little corner, and I fully approved of their dedication to each other. Her eyes still glittered with love as she looked at him, and his eyes leaked with adoration as he drank in her face. They knew what was important.

I turned my thoughts back to the man in front of me. The man who caught my heart, who spun me around, who taught me and my heart the real tango. The man who selfishly didn't think of me while I wasn't in sight, who forgot I had needs, and wants, who didn't realise a relationship needed time and attention to flourish, not just sweet endearments. Words can hurt, words are important. But actions have meaning.

"Juan. I thought you were, but what I came back to and saw this morning proved it is no longer true. You are no longer my home, my heart, or my safe place. I've come back, but not to be with you." I kept my eyes on him as I spoke my truth. "I can't be with someone who does not make me and my happiness their first, final, and always thought.
Then I dropped my eyes and stepped back.
"I'll be at the Apartment tomorrow. I'll see you then"

I walked out, finding my way through the crowd. I missed the clear sky, and emptiness of home. The red sand had found me, and was flowing through my veins.