Dancing in the Dark

23. European Tour

My sweetest little darling.
I love your eyes, your nose and the way you coo.

Your tiny hand grips one of my fingers, so small, petite.

You are the very definition of pure innocence.

I may have not been perfect, I may have made some mistakes in my past, but just looking at you, holding you, I know I did something perfect with you.

You help me see clearly, you help me see thr good in this world.

I wish I could see you grow up. I just know every little yawn, every little curious face, I will stare at you in wonder, thinking where and what did I do to deserve you.

December 2019
"That's it for a month." I sighed in to Max's arms. "Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague and Vienna. Done and dusted."

"It has been very busy." Max agreed, holding me tightly, his arm looped around me and slowly gliding up and down my arm.

Our European tour was half over and we were done till the 6th January. Then back to rehearsing for the first show of 2020 that weekend in Budapest, heading south east and looping pack to Paris in five months time.

Everyone was told to have christmas off, go home, visit families and loved ones. But some of us didn't. Like me. Like Max. We stayed in Paris when we returned. And nearly every day has been spent in front of a roaring fire, on the couch in our winter clothes.

Seeing the sights of those other countries was amazing and I would love to go back as a tourist. But what else was amazing was the nights I spent with Max in his apartment. Through most hours of the day, Max would work, phone calls and paperwork, meetings and conferences, mainly through skype. I would spend hours down at the acadamy, dancing, practicing, keeping myself in the knowledge of my performance of each little step.

So the days drifted on, and it got closer to christmas. I spoke to my family nearly every second night, I sent over little souvenirs and presents for christmas and as much as I missed them, they knew I wasn't going home this christmas. They understood, knowing my schedule was tight.

I spent the day before christmas eve in the studio, stretching and doing my routine when Jasper came in.

"Hey, Kim."

I stopped what I was doing and turned to the voice, a small smile at him. "Hey, how you going?"

I noticed he was walking fine, his limp gone and ankle healed.

"Getting there. Could be better."

I picked up my water bottle and took a sip. "So, are you finishing the tour, or am I still with Jean?"

"I'm finishing it."

"That's great, Jasper." I smiled. "How is the ankle?"

Jasper grinned. "Got the all clear. Which is great."

"I'm sorry about Isabelle." I said to him softly. She broke up with Jasper just before we left Paris.

Jasper sighed. "Yeah. It wouldn't have worked out."

"What about Marguerite? I've noticed the sisters are a bit distant and cold towards each other."

"Maggie said that we should stay away from each other, Isabelle wasn't happy about it and yeah." Jasper shrugged. "Belle has been cruel to her sister, but what can I do?"