Killing Softly

Vaganova's Ballet Academy, Saint Petersburg - Winter 1973

"Look at me ! Did I do good ?"

The little girl asked, still trying to ensure her posture and maintain while practicing her enclosing upper part of the foot on the floor, also known as the " en pointe" gesture.

"Oh darling, look at you, being all stuck and clumsy..."

The mother uttered, gently clapping on the upper side of her left leg, peeping on her watch to make sure they didn't miss the train to go back home.

"Anna Karenine Chtchedrine, young lady, hurry up. It is already past eight darling, and you still haven't eaten your dinner to get all your superpowers..."

The disabled mother whispered, starting to push on the wheelchair to join her little five years old girl.

[...]

Bolshoi Theater, Moscow- Spring 1979

"Mama! Mama!"

Hums the little ballerina, scurrying to the teacher with her pinky ballet skirt and her undone bun.

"Mama, will I ever become a Prima Ballerina, like you ? Mama, tell me!"

The young girl asked while tugging at her mother's sleeve.

" Maybe if you stop pulling on my woolen sweater, and if you closely pay attention so you can coordinate your moves to the piano, than maybe yes, you will..."

She severely answers, putting a rebel wick of her chestnut hairs back in place, behind her rosy pierced ear.

[...]

Novodevitchi's Cemetery, Moscow - Fall 1991

"Mom, I didn't become the one you wanted me to. But I saved our country today. Oh, and I fell in love... I finally found someone to live with. Isn't that great ? He's an opponent, but I finally did something by my own... Please, be proud of me now."

She silently tabled the bouquet on the tomb, and walked away, joining in silence the two mens of the FIS, ready to take her to the death hallway. She turned one more time to face her mother's grave, and lightly smiled, throwing a tiny diamond ring on the floor, before making her heels clap on the cold floor.

"I'll handle it from here now, Jimin."