Gemotions

The air in the dance studio was thick with the scent of sweat and rosin. Emily’s name wasn’t on the list. The list that determined the next few years of her life. She’d given everything to ballet, and now… now what? The world suddenly seemed to tilt, the familiar room transforming into an alien space.

She stayed rooted to the spot, watching the other girls, their faces alight with joy. Her throat closed, making it hard to breathe. She felt a sharp sting behind her eyes, the imminent threat of tears. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She turned and went outside, the cold air a shock against her warm skin. She felt a sense of disorientation, as though she had been cast adrift.