Broken Shoes

Chapter 4

Broken Shoes

Chapter 4

I Fight Dragons’ ‘The Geeks Will Inherit The Earth’ blasted from my phone, waking me from my sleep. I groaned and rolled over burying my head in the pillow. A smile spread across my face remembering Brian setting it as my alarm before I came to London.

I sat in the hard heat next to the bed waiting for Sue to come back with the results of Brian’s last test. I was playing a game on my phone and as I reached the next level Brian snatched the phone from my hand.

“Hei!” I leaned across him trying to reach the phone, but he was holding at arms-length, “Rho’ fo’n ôl(Give it back)!” I wined

“Dwi ‘sio go (I want a go)!” He mimicked my tone pulling a face at me. I sat back in my chair, crossed my arms and staring moodily at the floor, he had to take it when I had just reached the next level didn’t he?!

            Brian chuckled and handed me back the phone with an evil glint in his eyes. I opened my mouth to ask what was so funny but Sue walked into the room holding a clipboard.

“All right you two?” Sue’s Scottish accent rang out

“Never been better Sue,” Brian grinned wickedly at me “never been better.” Sue raised an eyebrow, knowing that when Brian wore that smile he had or was just about to play a trick on someone.

“What news?” I asked looking at the clipboard.

“No change.” Sue was never one to beat about the bush, in a way it helped as we knew that she told us the truth and never tried to make things seem better than they were, giving us false hope.

“Ok.” I sighed and got up reaching for my bag, “I have to get to dance. See you later!” I hugged them both and hurried out of the hospital.

I hopped into the shower and sang along to ‘Save World, Get Girl’. When the song finished I wiped some of the condensation from the shower door and peered at the clock; 8:10am.

            I hurried to get dressed and waited for my toast to ‘pop’. I jumped when it did, spilling hot chocolate onto the floor, I muttered darkly under my breath about the stupid toaster and it’s amazing timing. After I cleaned up the mess I realised that I was going to be late and rushed out of the door and down the road to the collage.

            When I arrived the class had already started so I hesitantly pulled open the doors to the studio. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at me, everything was quiet. I shifted awkwardly under their gaze. Mrs McGreggor was the first to break the silence.

“Gwen, can I talk to you for a moment please.” It wasn’t really a question so I hobbled over to her and after Mrs McGreggor sent a glare in the direction of the rest of the class they all hurried to busy themselves with stretching and warming up. “Gwen, I wasn’t expecting to see you in class until after you’ve had the cast removed. I admire your dedication, but I must point out that even after the cast has been removed it would only harm your ankle further to return to pointe work.” I stared at her in shock, was she telling me I couldn’t dance anymore? “You are here on scholarship, am I right?” I nodded numbly “well I don’t think it would be wise to reapply. If you are unable to do complex and advanced movements then keeping your place here would be impossible.” I didn’t know what to say to that, it wasn’t like she was giving me any say in the matter. “Gwen?” I nodded “Good, that’s agreed then. I won’t see you again, so I would like you to know that you were a talented dancer and had a promising future ahead of you. I wish you all the best in the world.” She reached out and shook my hand then opened the door “Good bye Gwen.” I operated on autopilot and found myself going towards Betty’s, when I arrived I collapsed into a chair.