In 3, 2, 1, go. The music began to flow in my ears as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the rhythm. Words danced through my mind, and my hips began to sway instinctively. The beat pulsed through my veins, each note wrapping around me like a warm embrace.
As I looked into the mirrors lining the studio, my expression mirrored the intensity of the song—one about a caged bird yearning to break free and reach for the stars. Today, that bird was me. My long, white hair, a gift from my mother, bounced with every movement, glistening under the fluorescent lights. My emerald-green eyes sparkled, alive with emotion.
"I look edible," I thought, a grin spreading across my face as I twirled, momentarily lost in my own reflection. It felt as if the lyrics were narrating my very existence—dreamy and bittersweet. With the rhythm increasing, I responded with more vigor, my feet finding the perfect dialogue with the tempo.
Thoughts swirled in my mind as I danced—thoughts of expectations, of my father's rigid plans, and of my sisters obediently following his lead. I had always been the odd one out, the wild card in a stack of predictable playing cards. Dance was my refuge, my secret, and I craved the freedom it offered, even if it was strictly forbidden in my father's house.
As the song approached its climax, I noticed the door creak open but didn't skip a beat. I kept moving, pushing my body to match the soaring melodies until the last note faded into silence.
Just as I turned to grab my water bottle from my bag, another figure surged from behind the studio's mirrors. Before I could fully register what was happening, I felt a rush of air as someone lunged at me. I instinctively dodged, letting the momentum take them crashing to the ground.
"Uhhh, you are no fun, Rose! You never get scared, do you?" Katie exclaimed, dusting herself off with an exaggerated huff.
"Nope, I do not," I winked, amusement dancing in my voice. "Or maybe you're just bad at scaring people."
"Yen yen yen! I'll have you know I scared Xavier really bad this morning!" she countered, flipping her hair dramatically.
"Babe, Xavier would literally do anything just to make you happy," I shot back as I switched off the Bluetooth speakers, the remnants of the music still lingering in the air.
"Yeah, and so would you! Speaking of making me happy, guess what? Xavier has a party tonight, and you're going with me!" Katie declared, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Anyone who knew me, including Katie, was well aware of my disdain for parties: the loud music, the drinks flowing like rivers, the close quarters, and the incessant pressure to mingle. Each detail felt like an expectation looming over me. But this party was rumored to be special—Xavier had even personally invited me, and the whispers of a proposal swirled around the campus like smoke.
"Earth to Rose! Earth to Rose!" Katie waved a hand in front of my face, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. "Why do you look so lost? You really need to come to this one—I have a feeling big things are going to happen."
If only she knew how right she was.
"Fine, fine, but I'm not staying more than an hour," I sighed, unable to resist the infectious excitement radiating from my best friend. Her smile was irresistible, and her enthusiasm contagious.
"Yay! You're the best!" Katie cheered, her tone brightening the room.
Katie was unique, a blend of Russian glamour and American charm, with her striking blue eyes and high cheekbones that turned every head in a room. I knew my father approved of our friendship; she was a whirlwind with a soft heart—sometimes a dangerous combination for someone like me.
"ROSE!!!!" she shouted, shaking my shoulders with playful urgency. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been spacing out a lot lately."
Katie, though wild and impulsive, had an innate ability to sense when something was off. She never hesitated to check in on those she cared about, but she didn't need to know the full truth—my life felt like a quiet storm brewing underneath my seemingly placid exterior.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," I assured her, forcing a smile, though I felt the weight of many untold stories hanging between us.
"Good! Because we need to shop for the party outfit," she declared enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"What's wrong with the clothes you have?" I replied, a hint of exasperation creeping into my voice.
"Of course, there's nothing wrong! But big things will happen tonight—I can feel it! I need to look prepared, and so do you. We're both buying," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for dissent.
"Fine, as long as you're happy," I conceded, knowing too well that resisting Katie was an exercise in futility.
With a resigned sigh escaping my lips, I realized that tonight would be the first of many sighs to come. How I ended up in this mess, I didn't know, but deep inside, a tingle of anticipation coursed through me, as if the universe were whispering secrets I had yet to uncover. Maybe—just maybe—tonight would lead me to more than I expected, away from my father's constraints and toward the thing I had been secretly yearning for.