Chapter 205
288 Vouchers
They practiced till 8 PM. Only after Ms. Meredith repeatedly urged them to eat did everyone disperse.
Lucille understood their dedication and hard work.
One minute on stage takes ten years of practice offstage–training is an everyday commitment. “Skills rust after three days off” isn’t just a saying. Back then, she too never dared slack off.
Holding onto this sentiment, she skipped dinner with the others and headed to the rehearsal hall, seeking traces of her former self.
Just like that day in her grandmother’s long–unused dance studio, this time she danced freely. Guided by instinct, her body became the phoenix reborn from ashes.
Many imagined moves remained beyond her reach.
She couldn’t execute them.
Yet she never stopped. She danced on and on until the final pose, collapsing breathlessly onto the floor, sweat drench- ing her clothes.
Sparse applause echoed through the empty dance studio.
Only two pairs of hands, but their clapping came fierce and passionate, like sudden summer rain.
Turning, she saw Aydan and Linda approaching, still applauding.
“Lucille!
That was amazing!
Was that a dance about rebirth?”
Linda’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Lucille rose, offering a nervous smile. “Yes… Watching everyone train gave me this sudden urge…”
“It was truly magnificent!”
Genuine emotion shone in Linda’s eyes. Though Lucille’s movements lacked precision, though complex sequences proved impossible–who wouldn’t be moved by a phoenix struggling to fly after injury?
Aydan’s eyes gleamed intensely as he simply stated, “Lucille, we’ll practice with you.”
So they danced for three more hours.
Throughout, Lucille shared her creative vision between steps.
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Chapter 205
198 Fauchers
Gradually, Linda executed moves Lucille couldn’t achieve. Together, Aydan and Linda built choreographic structures from Lucille’s descriptions.
Though just a small segment, it unleashed a torrent of unexpressed ideas within Lucille.
“Lucille,” Linda asked, sweat beading her forehead, “a full dance drama with your vision would be breathtaking. Will you keep creating?”
Lucille hesitated….
Unsure if she possessed such capability.
Aydan noticed her uncertainty. “Lucille, it’s late. Let’s head back. We’ve danced our hearts out tonight!”
Lucille nodded, radiating joy. Tonight had indeed been exhilarating.
“Lucille!
Check this photo!”
Linda grinned outside their hotel rooms. “Stunning!”
It captured a lift.
Aydan supported Lucille mid–air. Her uninjured foot arched perfectly, body soaring like a phoenix taking flight.
“Hey, sneaking shots of me?” Aydan teased Linda.
Already stepping into the elevator, Linda laughed back, “Who’d photograph you? I was capturing Lucille!”
Aydan glanced down at Lucille. “Lucille, look how precise your form is here. This movement lives in your muscle memory.”
Lucille smiled softly. Linda had perfectly captured the most breathtaking lift from her entire dance.
“Lucille, you said it yourself – dancing is for the love of it, nothing else. When you love it, you dance with everything you’ve got!”
Lucille knew Aydan was cheering her on.
As the elevator arrived, she said earnestly, “I understand what you and Linda mean. I’ll seriously consider it.”
Just then the elevator dinged at her floor. “Thanks to both of you for tonight. I’m heading to my room now. Good- night.”
Aydan waved with a smile. “Goodnight, Lucille. Sweet dreams.”
Tiptoeing into the room, she worried about disturbing Meredith only to find her teacher awake, scribbling in a note- book.
“Still working, Professor?”
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Lucille was drenched in sweat.
Meredith looked up. “Goodness, shower quickly before you catch cold! How long were you dancing?”
288 sucker
“You knew I went dancing?” Lucille flushed with embarrassment. Once Meredith’s prized student, now dancing… like this.
“Of course I knew.” Meredith’s eyes twinkled. “I’d gone to watch. All three of you learning that new choreography.”
Lucille grew more flustered. “Professor, my dancing now is-”