THE DARKNESS WITHIN

Part ten: Are you in love with your husband?

A week goes by, and Rose finds herself back on her feet, yet her troubles persist. Chief among them is the young brunette who lingers in her thoughts, refusing to fade away.

After regaining mobility in her left leg, Rose eagerly returned to her classes. It has been three days since she reentered the swing of things, and during this time, she has been scanning the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pretty face adorned with a cascade of brown curls. Today is no exception.

"Mrs Hollingsworth, are you waiting for someone?" One of her students asked, her wide brown eyes gazing up at Rose curiously. She noticed her teacher stealing glances at the door, her expression filled with the hope of someone anticipating a visitor. Since all the students were present, the young girl felt compelled to know whom her teacher might be expecting.

Although taken aback by the girl's question, Rose maintained her composure as she shifted her gaze from the door to the inquisitive brown eyes watching her. "No one, Hailey," she replied, offering an affectionate smile.

"But why..."

The young girl sought to delve deeper into her curiosity, clearly unsatisfied with Rose's response. However, Rose gently interrupted her before she could finish her thought.

"No more questions, Hailey. Now, let's get back into the pose," Rose said patiently. At eight years old, Hailey possessed a bright and curious mind, a quality Rose genuinely appreciated. However, she wasn't about to reveal to an eight-year-old that she couldn't stop thinking about a girl she had only met a few times. It was complicated enough being married and longing for someone who wasn't her husband.

Hailey let out an exaggerated sigh, her dramatic expression eliciting a smile from Rose before she complied with the instruction. Following the lead of the rest of the class, she assumed her starting position: heels together, toes turned out to the sides, and arms rounded in front of her body, resting at waist level in a low

After Hailey's interruption, Rose consciously tried to redirect her thoughts away from and focus on her class. Once the lesson concluded and her students had departed, she found herself contemplating whether to contact Sandy.

The notion struck her as silly, yet her mind persisted in considering it earnestly. She weighed the pros and cons: risking embarrassment against the desire to satisfy her curiosity and to know if the younger woman was doing okay.

In the end, her longing to see Sandy prevailed.

She collected her belongings and exited the studio, ascending the stairs with a racing mind filled with anxious thoughts about what meeting again might entail. The nagging worry that she might be embarrassing herself, and that whatever connection she imagined between them could simply be a product of her imagination, tormented her as she ascended toward the second floor.

The magnificent historical building housing her studio is a sprawling complex with three levels, each dedicated to various forms of entertainment, predominantly featuring dance schools and classes.

Upon reaching the second floor, she noticed several groups engaged in their lessons, primarily teenagers and young adults. With a hopeful glance, she scanned the area through the windows, searching for Sandy and her group.

When she spotted Sandy, her breath caught in her throat. She was mesmerized by the way she danced. Sandy's movements were seductive and captivating as she gracefully moved alongside her taller male partner.

As Chris Brown's 'Under the Influence' played in the background, Sandy and her partner brought the choreography to life. A crowd of their peers gathered around, their faces alight with excitement as they watched the performance unfold.