Say Goodnight Before You Leave

24. Koi Girl

Past.

I've always been an early person, not much for personal preference, but because the life I pursue requires it from me. So, at five in the morning, I would be leaving the bed to be ready and set at six.

There was no jetlag between Denmark and Germany, so the time wouldn't be a struggle for me, but I feel so weirdly lazy these past two days. I feel I could just lay down and sleep for hours and hours more. Maybe it was all in correlation to my feelings, it wasn't the act of leaving, it was what and who I was leaving that made a mark.

But earlier than I could process, Bente knocks on my door and I make the most effort to sit up.

"Maysilee, there's a call for you."

I pull the blankets away and put my loafers on. "Oh my God, who's calling at this time of the day? Is it my dad?"

"No, it's Mikkel."

I suddenly feel more awake. "What?"

The room stays behind as I rush, no shoes on, to the kitchen. "Mikkel?"

"Good morning, little German."

"Why are you calling so early?"

"Early? Dearest, the day doesn't wait for you. And the polite thing to say is good morning."

"Yeah, sure. Why are you calling?"

"I promised you something and I'm very quick to carry out, so if you have the time today, by the afternoon you'll be closer to be employed."

"You already contacted the academy?"

"Not me directly. I called my cousin, told her I knew an amazing dancer that would be wonderful for the academy and she called them. They have free time this morning and they would like to see what you're all about."

"Oh, Jesus... I didn't even prepare anything."

"Show them something you did before."

"That's not how auditions work... it's just not the steps, it's the physical preparation, teach my body-"

"How many years have you been dancing?"

I sigh. "Since I was six."

"Oh, God, and how old are you? Seven? You have had plenty of time to teach your body, now get yourself dressed and meet me at 75, Emil James street. You heard me?"

"Yes, Emil James."

"75! Can you be there in an hour?"

"Depends on how far is this place."

"It's probably not more than twenty minutes away."

"Fine, I'll be there at seven."

He didn't say bye, just made an excited noise and hung up on my face. I look at the clock on the kitchen wall, I have less than thirty minutes to get dressed. Bente is looking at me with a lopsided smile, she's been there this whole time.

"What did he want?"

"Well, I have an audition for a company."

"So soon, I thought you would want to take at least a week or two of rest."

"I can't, Bente. All my savings went back to zero with everything that happened with my dad, and I deny myself to stay here without helping and-"

"Stop right there, Maysilee. You're not wasting a cent on my household."

"That's not my natural instinct."

"I wouldn't have taken you in if I wasn't a hundred percent sure that our situation is stable. I wouldn't have the courage to drag you to an even more unstable place... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say your house was unstable."