Dancing in the Dark

14. The Leading Lady

I'm not going to encourage you to follow my footsteps and I won't be disappointed if you don't.

I want you to find your own path to follow and take it. It may have some twists and turns, some bumpy parts and some are smooth sailing, but while you take that path, always be aware of your surroundings because it may have smaller paths that can lead to some of the best and worst times of your life.

For me, my path, I thought was simple, I had some hiccups, some emotional distress, but I made it to the end of my path. It wasn't the end I envisioned when I was a child.
It was better.

I got to meet you.

September 2018
I felt Peter's hands hold me steady as he lifted me above his head.

We were on London City Island in the building that hosts The English National Ballet.

The auditorium was full of paying watchers as the music slowed down even more.

My feet touched the floor, before I danced again, my arms loosely raising and my feet flying above the stage.

Again I felt Peter's hands on me, but I stayed loose and didn't shudder or go rigid. One thing I leant about Peter Chadswick was, I couldn't stand him.

He was a spoilt jerk and thought himself a player. More than once he tried to advance on me and I said the same thing everytime, I'm here for the dance, not the relationship.

His hand glided down my body for a second before he spun me.

It was the last scene of the performance. Everyone else were lined up on the sides and the back of the stage, doing small dance moves so the attention was on me and Peter.

My yellow costume was fancy and frilly and the tutu was very stiff as I bent my knee before straightening it, bowing.

Three more moves, I thought to myself. Three more moves than this creep doesn't have to touch me any more.

I took Peter's hand as we did our final steps.

Once the music stopped, we stilled, staying on the spot, looking at each other, trying not to pant.

The lights dimmed and the curtain started to fall as the room exploded in applause.

Once the curtain reached the bottom of the stage, I straightened up, pushing Peter off me.

"Well done, sugar." He purred at me before trying to kiss my cheek.

I placed my hand up at him. "How many times must I tell you not to call me that!" I snapped at him.

"Okay, people. Line up for your bow." I heard Antonio as the clapping on the other side of the curtain died down.

Then we heard a voice through the stereo system. "Ladies and gentlemen, the cast for The Beauty and the Beast, from The Royal Ballet School."

The villagers were first, then behind them, the people that played the furniture, then there was Peter, myself and Pierre.

We all took our bows.

With a man on each side of me, I took their hands and we bowed as the audience applauded again.