Bravissimo

Early Truths

After a while of thinking and a final shivery breath from Annabel, she stands up and says, "It has been a while, Mother's to perform soon, perhaps we should go." I grin and stand up. Though being up here was truly a break from the world she was right, it is time to go. We finally reach box 5 to wait for the opera to begin and Annabel looks down at her now gloved hand. How easy it would be for her to rip it off and show the world what we're hiding, then it would no longer be her problem but theirs. 

"The blue gloves today?" I ask as the fine silk glistens in the chandelier's light. 

"Yes, for mother." She says and I nod. With the dimmer of the lights came the automatic silence form the crowd, the illumination of the velvet curtain, and Maestro conducting the first piece. 

"They've been practicing." I whisper. 

"Mhmm, I can tell, I can hear it in the violin." she says and I slightly shake my head and grin. Next Carlotta comes out and begins to sing the piece made specifically for her, "The Garden Wall" and Annabel slightly smiles in approval. 

"What do you think of this one?" I lean over and whisper. 

"I think, I think you clearly made this for her, and you did well." she says and I chuckle. Carlotta does everything the way I knew she would, the way I made it, and I am content with it. The curtains close and scene two commences, I feel a grin show on my face when I see Annabel's smile as the dancers come out, and how I can't wait for her to perform here. The light pink, purple, green, and blue dressed ballerinas all in their certain places look just as I envisioned, the colors giving the viewers a feeling of calm and serenity. The dancers begin to dance gracefully and I just can not seem to take my eyes off of Christine. "She's so beautiful father, like a diamond!" Annabel says excitedly and I nod. 

"Of course, she's your mother." I say as I watch her perform the slow pirouettes into a la seconde. Her beautiful smile across her face as she dances across the stage in harmony with the others makes me realize how much I truly do love it when she dances, though I will always love her singing all the more. The song comes close to the end and the male dancers leave the stage from their partners and the ballerinas spin faster and faster along with the music, until finally they slow down. They all begin to get lower and lower until they're all on the ground, dramatically shielding their faces with their hands, symbolizing winter.

After the performance Annabel and I clap for Christine, as much as we can per usual. The ballerinas lock fingers and all curtsy at the same time, the curtain closes and the lights come back on. "Another great piece, truly it was wonderful father." She says with a proud smile and I bow to her with a grin as she continues to clap. 

"Thank you dear." I say and put my arm out, motioning for her to go ahead down to the foyer. When I reach down there I look around and notice Annabel is no longer at my side. 

"Father up here!" she says and I laugh and shake my head as I see Annabel above me on the steps. The people behind her all flooding out without giving her a chance to move. I put my arms out for her to drop down into and see Christine from across the floor raising her eyebrows at Annabel. I grin and give her a wink as she shakes her head at me. 

"Alright Anna Bee, be swift!" I say as I lift my hands back up when Christine looks away. She squeezes through the railing's marble bars and drops into my arms laughing while she does it and I spin her around with a chuckle.

Christine-

Walking off stage and grabbing a shall from Antoinette to cover up with I can't stop smiling. How, I've missed dancing with the girls and Meg, and how they have missed me! It doesn't beat singing, but dancing tonight has been very refreshing, from when I was just a chorus girl almost ten years ago. "It still amazes me that Erik wrote that! He's very talented, you should be proud Christine!" Meg says with a smile.