SHADOW

The One-Day Teacher

"One, two, three, four... one, two, three, four..." Sha's head was swirling. She would probably hear those numbers in her mind for the rest of her life.

A new teacher had come today—a young man with a sun-kissed, handsome face, golden auburn hair, and eyes as green as fresh grass. He was so cheerful, and he didn't seem bothered at all by Sha's clumsy attempts to pretend she was a real lady.

After a whole day of practice, Elias was now lounging with her on the front lawn, relaxing after five hours of nonstop dancing. The man had inhuman strength. So many times, she thought she'd collapse from exhaustion, and somehow, he carried her more than she danced—but he just kept going and going and going.

Somehow, Elias already felt like an old friend, even though they had only known each other for a few hours. Now, the three of them sat on the front lawn, quite unladylike—Sha wiggling her bare toes in the silky grass and sipping lemonade with Elias and Sonya, who had joined their barefoot team and was now jumping around, trying to mimic their dance moves.

"One, two, three, four!" Sonya sang out loud, twirling as she attempted the steps.

Sha smiled at her.
"Were you spying on us?" she asked, lifting her face from the blessedly cold lemonade.

The sun was beautiful in the front garden. It was cheerful and relaxing here—a total opposite of the back garden, Sha thought. Maybe the ghost is afraid of the sun. It definitely loved the darkness and shadows. They must be safe here. For now.

"She caught it pretty well," Elias said, rolling onto the grass and starting to count clouds.

Sha wondered if a teacher should really be rolling around in the grass with his student—but honestly, who cared? It was fun, and after the exhausting day, she needed this moment.

He stretched, and his shirt bunched up. Sonya stared—far too long for Sha's liking—at the well-toned abs beneath. He was far more built than one might expect from a dance and music teacher. More like a soldier than a dancer, she thought.

"I had a wonderful day here... with you, Sha," Elias said, looking at her with those big, kind green eyes.

Yes, he really did look like a kind person, with his sunny complexion and golden skin.
"I almost forgot how much I love dancing," he added with a sigh.

Then, without warning, he flopped back onto the grass and—to Sha's astonishment—fell asleep right there in the sun.

"Is he really sleeping?" Sonya asked, kneeling beside him and peering at his face.

"I think so," Sha murmured, rolling over to take a closer look. Their noses were nearly touching. His breath still smelled faintly of almonds and vanilla cookies—the ones he had eaten in spades that afternoon. Sha inhaled deeply, her stomach growling, and she blushed.

"Boo!" he shouted suddenly, opening his eyes and grabbing her around the waist.

He rolled with her across the lawn, and Sha's head spun. Her hair filled with grass and dry leaves as they tumbled, laughing. Sonya fell on her backside from the shock, which only made them laugh harder. Elias's strong body pressed briefly against Sha's, making her squirm and blush until he finally rolled off, still giggling.

"I got you both!" Elias laughed.

"Well, it's getting late. I have to go now. But thank you both—it was a wonderful day," he said, jumping to his feet and brushing the grass off his clothes.

"Are you going to be my dance teacher from now on?" Sha asked, looking at him hopefully.

"I wish I could be, my fair lady," he said, patting the brown horse that already awaited him near the front entrance. "But I'm afraid today was a one-time visit."

"I could ask the Count to hire you. He's kind, and—" Sha started, blushing.

"You would?" Elias asked, grinning.

Sha nodded, her eyes drifting to her hands.

"I'm afraid my time is already occupied with other matters... but who knows? Perhaps we shall meet again, my fair lady."

He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth, then jumped onto his horse and galloped away.

Sha stared after him, stunned.
Sonya sighed loudly behind her.

"He had a face carved by angels," whispered the maid, smiling at Sha.

Sha said nothing. She just stared down the path where Elias had disappeared, her heart fluttering strangely in her chest. The sun was still shining, the grass still warm beneath her feet—but something had shifted, and she knew it.

She wasn't sure if it was the dance, the kiss, or the way he made her feel like she belonged in a world she was only pretending to be part of.

Maybe it was all of it.