Her Escape, His Safe Haven

Chapter 2- Back To Norm

I have been awake lying in bed just staring at the ceiling for what feels like forever. I didn't even know what time it was, but I was hoping it was still early so that I could mentally prepare myself for what I was about to endure. 

I loved it when he was away, and he was away for about a month and a half this time. He said he wanted to spend time with my mom so he went with her on her latest business trip. I think they went to Australia or something, but I wasn't really paying attention to what he said. I was too busy celebrating in my head, while trying not to smile. He hates to see me even remotely happy, so I do my best not to be happy in front of him. To be honest it's not that hard. I only seem to be happy when I'm dancing.

I dance to forget everything he does to me. I dance to feel anything but fear and disgust. I dance to get lost in my passion.

Eventually I knew I had to get out of bed. I flipped over and grabbed my phone that had been charging all night. I had a text and a few likes on my photos on Facebook. I opened the text to see it was just some spam thing that wants you to go to the link so they can bug your phone or whatever so I just deleted the text. I didn't bother with the Facebook stuff; I can always check that later.

I hopped out of bed and went to my closet picking out something to wear for the day. It's still hot out considering it's summer and all so I chose a pair of shorts and a loose tank top. I don't get to dress like this often so I'm going to take advantage of it while I can.

School starts on Wednesday this week. It will be my senior year and I honestly can't wait for it to be over so I can leave and never have to look back. I have dealt with this long enough, I'm over it. I'm over all of it.

Ten o'clock. He shouldn't be home until after dance practice so I have a little bit more free time. I decided I wanted to go to the studio early as Ms. Mack doesn't mind if I'm in there alone. She doesn't know what goes on at home, but she knows that it's bad and sometimes I need an escape. So she gave me a key. I gathered everything I would need for rehearsal and I grabbed my phone and a snack and started my walk to the studio.

After I warmed up and stretched I decided to work on 'Human'. I wasn't quite warm yet, so I just marked it instead of going full out.

I ran through it three times, just marking before I figured I was warm enough and decided to go full out. I got completely lost in the music and the movement and find myself feeling every note and every word. By the end of the dance I could feel a few tears leave my eyes. Sometimes this happens. I can't help the emotion that pours out of me, especially when I'm doing lyrical dances. I sniffled and wiped off my face just as girls started pouring in to start rehearsal.

"Athena, I'm glad you're here early," I heard Ms. Mack say "I can't stay today, my sister needs me to watch her kid while she takes her husband to the hospital, can you teach the class today?" She asked

"Absolutely. What are we working on?" I asked her.

"Can you finish teaching them the choreography we came up with for 'Figures'?"

"Of course! I hope everything is okay with your brother in law." With that she gave me an appreciative smile and walked out of the studio leaving me to run the show.

"Okay guys! Gather around the front please," I shouted getting everyone's attention when I realized all the girls were there. "Ms. Mack had a family emergency so she asked me to run class today. We are going to finish learning the choreography for Figures, but first let's warm up." I said and played 'Sail' on the stereo system and we did our usual warm up. After everyone was sufficiently warmed up we started on the choreography.