- Chapter 13 -

Roaring Applause greeted her

Roaring applause greeted her. The music intentionally delayed to give the audience time for the greeting, needed as a release after the long worry about her. With blown kisses she thanked them. Ever so low in volume, music started in the background, weaving and slowly coming to the fore. The concert had been written just for this event by her new husband Milo. It mirrored their love.

The rise of angular tones, her flash of speed crashed over the admirers, foaming, tossing. Then quiet, whispering, her blades whispering back. The memories of Tutu invaded her, let me see what I have learned from you, girl. Now quiet focus, pulled into herself, drinking in the music, merging, floating. Her arms pulled in front and embracing herself. A highlight of sound rushed over her, a daring jump out of nowhere. Then back to easy swaying with the grass of the meadow of the sound.

Stretch longer and longer

Caressing the ice. Gliding with its touch ever there. Head pounding, whips of sound rushing through, spins, jumps, endless flying. The music was she, she was the music and Milo had just painted a portrait of his love, her love, a love intertwining and whole. Crystals blinding, flashes, pink merging into rainbow-colors. Thousands upon thousands of stars dancing around her, glittering, blinking. Softness caressing, enticing, stretching. Complete the movement, stretch longer and longer, take your time, savor the movement, make it last. Complete it. Blades whispering back to her and anchoring her again.

Lyrical sweetness, gliding, barely touching, fluttering silk. Around the rink glowing crystals bathing her in softness, drifting, pulling in. Deeply absorbed into the pearls of the music, slowly climbing the soft ladder of notes. Awareness blossoming, pace rushing, thundering. Jumping high, growing restless, bursting out into a firestorm of sound and movement. Faster and faster, no breath left, blackness moving in from the sides of vision, suddenly a crashing burst of fireworks. Honey oozing through the veins, sluggish contentment.

Oneness of music and mind, translated into the movement of her lovely body. Leaving the audience to lose their own identity, merging into her every expression, feeling every move, jumping every jump. Blood pounding to the rhythm of the music, forgetting where they were, who they were. Humming inside the bones. Breathing flat. Slowing, serenity draping, cottony dream.

Piano pinging, bells woven into a rippling of a peaceful brook. Rising up again, becoming white-water, roaring over the cliff and pouring into a placid lake. Sun dancing on ripples creating diamonds that fling around this beautiful girl. A last spin, then quiet, slow ebbing of sound, a small twitch of the hands, head raised up high, receiving the earned glory.

Flowers and stuffed bunnies flew onto the ice amidst a deafening, tumultuous appreciation. She picked up a garland of violet clover, plucked out a little trumpet and enjoyed the nectar. She was whole again. On the way to her dressing room, a tall man in a long black coat lifted off his top hat and bowed deeply.

The End Of the tale

Symbol of waves, stars, sun, seahorses. Divider.