It's different for everyone. The way they move, some do it because it's a necessity. Many of them do it out of rhythm. For me?, Rhythm is everything, not just as a requirement but because it grounds me.
Dance isn't just something I do, it's who I am.
My mum bought me my first dancing shoe when I was two years old. I remember the rush I felt when she first put them on. It was amazing. I wore them everyday as long as I could until they didn't fit anymore.
After that, it was one shoe to another. Dancing became my everything. It was the air I breathe, the words I spoke, even in the moments I slept.
Now, if you read the beginning part of my story you would have figured it out. I'm a dancer.
Well I was until.........
"It is quites unfortunate what happened to Nicole Crystals"
"So much talent gone to waste in just a flash"
"I can't believe it's over for her"
"She dreamed too big, serves her right".
Well I guess we can't exist in a world where everyone loves us.
Fast forward three years later.
"Nicole baby, do you need anything else?". I looked up from the magazine I had been staring at aimlessly for the past hour at my mum.
"No, I'm fine. Thanks mum". I tried to smile at her but my face had lost any attribute of happiness so I failed.
She nodded at me and left me in my room. The space I hadn't left in the past three years since my accident.
I closed my eyes and let myself remember. Remember the moment my life came crashing down.
"You excited for tonight?", Bridget asked.
Bridget was a God sent. We met on my first day when I enrolled in the dance acedemy and we had bonded for life. But sometimes I wish I could unbond myself from her like this very moment.
I sighed, " Bri I've told you like one hundred times, do not and I repeat do not interrupt me when I'm trying to visualize".
She rolled her eyes. Typical, "Well excuse me for taking a half day off work to come check on my "best friend" before the biggest performance of her life".
"Of course I am excited and a little bit scared too".
She bent down next to me, " You're gonna do great, you got this far because you've got spirit and love for what you do. Never forget that"
I opened my eyes.
Spirit and love. I wonder where they were now.
"Nicole, you got a visitor"
Who now?
"Hey"
Yet I again I failed to smile ,"Hey Bri"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I'm waiting for the how're you feeling today Nicole or the it will get easier Nicole"
" Well we're having none of that today, I'm here to take you out and I'm not taking no for an answer. C'mon you haven't left this house in three whole years. I'm really trying here Nicole but you gonna meet me halfway because I don't know what -"
"I'll go"
She blinked twice,"What?"
"You heard me I'll go, wherever it is you want to go "
"Just like that". I simply shrugged.
She managed to change my clothes. It wasn't easy being in a wheelchair and all but we finally got it done. And for the first time in three years I saw the outside if my house door.
"Where is this place?"
"Just wait and you'll see"
Just then there was a blast of music. The lights went all crazy and a bunch of people, no kids came out from whatever place they were and started dancing.
It was more like they were having fun, no rhythm, no coordination. It was different. More beautiful?.
"It's amazing isn't it". She gazed down at me.
"It is, how did you find this place?"
"Well the agency I work for recently got involved in charity work. Most of this kids here are out on the street so we rented this building temporarily where so they can have a safe place to go to".
I looked back at the kids. There was a time I felt what they felt. The freedom that came with dance.
I went to the "hangout" every day after that. I would just sit in the corner and watch them, not like I had the option to stand.
Few months later, I joined the group dancing. All I did was roll around in my wheelchair but it was fun.
"You look happier today"
"Yes I am". There was a pause." So I've been thinking "
"You're capable of thinking?"
"Haha, you should go into comedy since you've got jokes now"
Bri rolled her eyes. Typical
"Anyway I've been thinking, and I want to open a school. I know not everyone here can dance so it would just be like a school for talented kids because everyone has a talent plus it would get them off the street. There will be dorms for those who enroll. I still got a lot of money I saved from dancing and-"
"Nicole". She laughed," First of all stop rambling, that's my thing, second of all I'm all in. Whatever you want to do I'm here for you"
"You really think I can do it", I mean, I rolled the wheels, "I'm not thesame as I was"
"I know you can do it, you wanna know why?"
"Because I've got love?"
"Yes Nicole,but most of all because you've got spirit".