Quiet. That was her favorite part of this odd night habit. No one was shouting positions, critiquing posture or telling her how broken she was. Even her own thoughts would ease off into muffled ripples. It wasn’t exactly peaceful but it was enough to just. . . stop. For a little while.
A hiss broke free from between her tightly pressed lips as the icy waters swept over her toes and lapped against her battered heel. After the flash of searing pain subsided, the relief came flooding into her and she was able to lean back and rest against the cool grass.
Alice was beginning to question how much more physical brutality her body could endure. Lately her health had been declining and the wear and tear of dance wasn’t helping any. She wouldn’t give it up for anything, though. The only time she felt anything closely resembling happiness was when she danced. Even if she was being scolded by her teacher in the process. She could control dance. She was the one with the power. With everything else in her life being out of her grasp, she wasn’t willing to relinquish this one thing.
She watched the shadows of the clouds overhead shift subtly as time drained on, but it was a light rustling that tore her from her pleasant moment of numbness.
Her heart clawed her throat to shreds on its way up as she sat straight and pulled her feet from the water, ready to run from the threat her fear had deduced was most certainly there.
Whatever it was she was expecting, a small girl with stark white hair and equally as pale skin was not it.
“Oh.” She vocalised her surprise without really meaning to, and let go of her knees. “I’m sorry, I thought you were someth- someone else.”
