His eyes ask me if that even matters anymore.
I shrug because I don't know myself. Dancing seems to be the last straw we can cling to right now.
"Come." He leads me to the kitchen, where we both sit at the dining table. The bowl with my favorite sweets and the bouquet are new, the delicate fragrance of which reaches my nose.
Maxime leans toward me and takes my hands. "I didn't expect you to ask so soon."
Resolutely, I nod. "Life must go on."
An incredibly relieved smile crosses his face. "I was sure the day would come when my little fighter would emerge again."
Yes, that's who I am. A fighter. Not a failure, desperately trying not to drown in guilt.
"I talked to Madame Durand," he continues.
"What did she say?"
"We can stay." His hands tighten around mine.
Can that be true? I don't want to distrust him, but it's hard to believe. The boss made the conditions clear. Maxime will keep his job only if we reach the finals of the French Championship.
And we certainly haven't done that.
I can tell he has so much more to tell me, but he doesn't.
"What did you promise her in return?" She wouldn't have agreed if she didn't expect something.
He smiles at me. "Only that we'll dance again as soon as you're ready." His thumb trails over the back of my hand. "You want that too, don't you?" he asks cautiously.
Of course, I do!
"I didn't know if... well, because of your dream and all..." His movements become agitated. He tries several times to say something, but it seems to be a struggle for him. "If you don't want to, then..."
Quickly, I shake my head. "No, that's great," I say even though I'm not entirely sure what I want right now. But at least one thing is clear: it's the only way. We have to dance. "The training will surely do me good."
For a moment, he closes his eyes and exhales, as if the air has been building up in his lungs over the past few minutes. "But we'll start only when you're fully recovered."
I stand from my chair and lean over the table toward him. Our lips gently touch. "Promise," I murmur, and even though I can't feel or see it, I want to believe in one thing. Sincedancing and livingseem unattainable right now, we can at least achieve something else: dancing and hoping.
