Meadow Valley High School

Saying Goodbye is so hard to do

Ana stopped by her old dance studio with David,Cristov and Sergio to say goodbye to everyone there before they all flew backto Kentucky. Sergio had spoken to Ana's head dance teacher at the studio as shegave him instructions on how to help prepare Ana for her Julliard soloaudition. Sergio had promised to work extra hard with Ana to ensure that bothhis brother and Ana would get selected into the dance program next year.

     Julliard'sdance program was one of the toughest programs to get accepted into. They onlyaccepted twenty four students each year, twelve males and twelve females. The oddsof Ana being accepted into the program were much more difficult than it wouldbe for Cristov. There were always more female dancers than males and Ana had tofight hard for her chance to study there. Ana thought that Cristov was a prettyamazing dancer and she was certain that he would get accepted into the programbecause he had such a vivid imagination and interpretation of dance. Cristovwas also the best male partner she has ever danced with.

     Ana said her finalgoodbyes to everyone at the studio before her grandparents drove them back tothe airport. Ana was sad because she was going to miss seeing her friends inMiami, especially Rebekah, she was one of her best friends and has been herrock through the loss of her father. Ana thought that everything was going tobe so strange when she returned back to her new home in Kentucky.

     Once they arrived at the airport, Ana washaving a difficult time letting go of her grandparents. Shecried and hugged them goodbye as long as she could. David led Ana away throughthe security gate. She kept turning around to look and blow kisses goodbye towardsthem. Tears streamed down her face as she thought about her father. They werethe last little piece of her father she had left in this world. Ana's heart wasbroken as she walked towards her gate to board the airplane. It all feltsurreal. She kept silent the entire time and stared at the ground to keep frombreaking down and crying.

     Sergio and Cristov knew she was struggling with sayinggoodbye so they tried to give her some space. Cristov sat next to her on theairplane and Ana leaned her head on the window and looked out into the sky mostof their flight to Chicago. Cristov felt bad for Ana because he knew she washaving a painful time with leaving her family. He understood how it felt toleave everything you've ever known to go to a strange new place and start yourlife all over again. He and his brother had to do the same thing a few yearsago when they left their country to move to the states.

     He tried to console heras he noticed a few tears streaming down her cheeks but Ana just turned awayfrom him and closed her eyes as she leaned up against the window. It was noteasy for Ana to stay mad at Cristov for so long because he was trying hard tobe understanding and extremely sweet to her. Cristov always had this way ofmaking Ana laugh and cheering her up when she was feeling sad. Ana started tothink that maybe she was over reacting a bit about the kiss in the performanceso she apologized to Cristov for yelling at him so harshly.

"I'm sorry for exploding on you back there Cristov. I just have so many emotions going through my head right now."

"It's okay. I understand. I'm sorry for letting my feelings for you get in the way of our performance. I never meant to break your trust in me."

Ana looked at him as he sincerely apologized to her and responded, "just don't let it ever happen again," she scolded him.

"I promise, unless you want it to happen again?" He smirked in curiousity.

Ana shot him a stern look immediately.

"Okay, okay, I promise."

     Dancers hadmutual understandings with each other because it was common for them to emote theirfeelings into dance. Cristov understood what Ana was trying to say to him as hecould understand her passion for dance like no one else.

     Cristov smiled as he made the gesture, "friends,"reaching out his hand to Ana as a peace offering. Ana accepted his offer offriendship and shook his hand as she smiled back at him. Cristov rested hisleft hand on Ana's thigh and Ana placed her hand on top of his and patted it. After a few seconds, as their fingers gentlytouched each other's they slowly interlocked their fingers together. Anaeventually rested her head upon Cristov's shoulder. They both stared straight ahead for awhile, not saying a word to each other.

     After some time of silence had passed, Cristovtried to make Ana laugh and talked excitedly about both of them getting aninvitation to audition at Julliard. The pair of them talked enthusiasticallyabout their opportunity and dreamed about what it would be like to live in NewYork City and study dance at Julliard.