Gemotions

The first thing she noticed was the lack of music. Professor Bell, her ballet instructor, always had music playing. The second thing was the empty studio. No barre work. No pliés. Just silence. She’d been looking forward to class all week, to his corrections, to the way he pushed her.

She walked in, her footsteps echoing in the empty room. Her bag slipped from her shoulder, falling to the floor with a thud. She stared at the ballet bar, the polished wood reflecting the sunlight. She felt a wave of cold rush through her. Where was Professor Bell? He never missed a class. Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat against the silence.