In that Instant

How masterful Tchaikovsky is!

In that instant, Ana was nostalgia.

The orchestra initial musical notes guided her to her childhood dance classes: her friendships; the teacher; classical music; ballet tutus. She flied to that night in December when her parents took her to watch The Nutcracker.

Upon sitting between them in that noble padded theatre armchair, she so much wished them to reconcile – imagining her as a great fairy who could make them married and happy again. While the dancers floated on stage, Ana's heart was moving in intense chords along with her childish dreams.

She fell in love with that Ballet show. Every other day she dreamt of that Grand Pas de Deux: spending days in years trying to emulate the Sugar Plum Fairy steps to that dramatic tune.

When she was 16 years old, as an enchantment, Ana decided to quit Ballet classes. She hid her ballet shoes, ballet clothing and costumes. She stopped listening to Tchaikovsky. She did not attend those shows anymore. That passion slept in her soul as she had met Andre, her first boyfriend. They used to listen to Legião Urbana. Watching  movies. So much wished to marry each other.

Ana was there in that Great Theatre again. After 25 years of that unforgettable night of her childhood. This time with her daughter by her side. "Will she fall in love, as I did?"

Clarice did not like ballet: she preferred watching movies and sports – "like her father"...

While the dancers were performing, Ana observed her daughter thrilled eyes. She was glad Clarice was enjoying. Her daughter was attentively following each movement on stage.

Among those interludes and waltzes, memories from the past were flashing at her sight.

Ana remembered her ex-husband who left to Boston a year ago. Since then he did not meet Clarice – they only talked through cell phone. Apps were there to enable more conversation. But the distance was a hard part, for sure. "It would be so good if she could have her father's company!".

At the end of the first act, both got up to take some fresh air. They shared some impressions of the Ballet. Clarice admired the talent of the dancers. She wanted to know the details of the story: who wrote the story and "so impressing" suite... Her tone of voice was joyful. She sent a message to her father. "When I visit you, I want to attend the show in New York. Dad will you take me there?!".

For an instant, Clarice was imagination: her father, New York, the ballet, Christmas...

Ana observed her behavior. Her maturity, even as a child. She felt guilty for her daughter being so precocious.

"Divorce, even being friendly, has brought some consequences". Her mother guilty feeling used to invade her mind several times.

At the end of the sublime Andante Maestoso both stared at each other with tears in their eyes and smiled.

In that instant, mother and daughter were a dream.

Ana's feet were tingling during Grand Finale. Her hands were looking for the car key in her bag... But the key was not there. She shivered. "Right now?!"

They spent a dozen of minutes wandering attentively through the theatre, corridors and toilets. Ending the night eating a sandwich and laughing at that mix-up to find the key - which had fallen in the toilet floor during the show intermission.

  A couple of hours later, sitting at the restaurant, both were laughing while pretending to dispute  the French fries. "This night will be History"!

In that instant, mother and daughter were pure bliss.