Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
“New?”
“Yes, I started working on it a while ago, when I first knew.”
“When you first knew what?” she asks with curiosity as we walk down the hallway toward another closed door.
“When I first knew that my life would never be the same without you in it.” As soon as I finish my answer, I open the door and reveal what I have done for her. “I’ve built you this private theatre.”
Isla gasps and lets go of my hand to cover her mouth in surprise. The space is admittedly brilliant and impressive. It rivals the size of her old theatre, complete with backstage wings, a dressing room, and even a small practice studio with mirrored walls and a professional barre affixed to the wall. In front of the semicircle stage is a small row of theatre-style chairs covered in red velvet upholstery. Overhead, there is stage lighting and a spotlight.
She is visibly overwhelmed as she tries to speak. “How did you do all of this? Why did you do this?”
“I did it for you,” I say as I watch her walk around the private theatre and take it all in. “It didn’t take long, and Celeste guided some choices regarding construction and décor. When money is no obstacle, it’s amazing how quickly one can build something in their own backyard. I didn’t include too much audience seating because I still don’t want people knowing where my home is, so consider it more of a private showing type of arrangement.” In truth, I want to be the only one watching her dance.
“But why, Vincent?” she asks again. “Why would you make this all for me?”
“I am in love with you, Isla. And that means that I can’t do anything to hurt you or lessen your happiness in life. I want you to be with me, and I want to give you the world, but I know that none of that will be real if I have to force you to stay. So, I built you this private theatre to make you happy and to show you I don’t want you to feel like you’re my prisoner here. There are no cameras here, no rules inside this place—only a ballet theatre for you.”
I stand there feeling rawer and more exposed than I have ever felt. I’ve been in tough situations before, ones that have toyed with death and the brink of destruction. But I have never borne my heart to anyone in this way, and I have never allowed myself to feel so vulnerable ever since my sister died, until now.
Isla says nothing. Instead, she walks out into the center of the stage and sits down, looking out into the audience area of the theatre before putting on her pointe shoes.
I stand in the stage’s corner, watching as she ties each ribbon carefully and then stands and dances. At first, she stretches slowly, as if trying to coax her body back to doing what it knows and loves best. Then, she moves with every bit as much grace and skill as she did the night that I saw her perform on stage. She dances her same solo, alone and in silence, and the beauty of her movements leaves me gaping at her in awe.
This time, there is no fancy costume, no tight bun at the back of her head. Isla’s thick waves of hair fall around her as she turns, and she’s able to make jeans and a hoodie look as if they are effortless to dance in. She doesn’t need anything other than herself to be the most beautiful and talented thing I have ever seen, and I could stand here and watch her forever.
“Dance with me,” she says softly when she stops to look at me.
“What? No, I can’t dance,” I chuckle uncomfortably.
“Please, just one step.” Isla walks closer toward me and reaches for my hand. She pulls me gently out onto the stage and presses her body against mine. “Like this,” she says as she sets my hand on her hip.
For her, I would do anything, even try to dance. I do my best to move alongside her, awkward and stiff at first. But it’s nearly impossible not to feel her movement flow around me and then within me, and after a few minutes, I can feel myself loosen a bit.
“Imagine what my men would say if they saw me dancing on a stage with you,” I laugh as she continues to guide me one smooth step after another.
“I don’t care what they would say, and neither should you. Most of them are apes anyway,” she teases. “You have never looked so human, Vincent.”
Isla stops moving and stands on her toes to lift her mouth to mine and kiss me.
I linger at her lips until she lowers herself back down on her shoes again. I’ve done everything that I can think of in order for her to want to be here with me, and now I only have one last question to ask her.