I glance at Alice. She adores me, yet I wish nothing more than for Aurora to be standing in her place, looking at me like that.
Wait a moment.
Why not?
What if I just imagine Aurora by my side? Pretend that I'm not dancing with Alice, but with her?
"Ready?" she asks, raising her perfectly groomed eyebrows.
I nod briefly, then I count the beat.
As I take the first step, I can hardly concentrate, trying hard to pretend that Alice is Aurora.
My footwork is sloppy, but the resistance within me lessens. And with each passing minute of the training session, I find it easier to let go.
During our final run-through, I even manage to enjoy the dance a little. Joy fills me, accompanied by the swift steps, perfectly synchronized with the music, a feeling I haven't experienced in a long time.
Inner peace.
Everything becomes lighter, with fewer worries, fears, and doubts. There is only the jive, the melody, and my Aurora, finally dancing with me again.
This is how it should be. Exactly how it's meant to be.
Even as the music continues to play, our choreography approaches its climax. Together, we hold the final pose with firm body tension. Breathing heavily. But radiantly.
"That was amazing!" Alice's words bring me back to reality abruptly. "We make a dream team."
I quickly distance myself from her so she won't get the wrong idea. "A good start, indeed. We'll continue tomorrow." Now that reality catches up with me, a sudden coldness spreads within, accompanied by feelings of guilt.
Is it okay to enjoy dancing without Aurora? Even though I only had her in my thoughts, it now feels as if I've betrayed her. Especially because Alice now looks at me as if I’ve just given her an orgasm.
"I'm looking forward to it," she says with a wink. When I don't react, she leaves the dance hall without making any further advances.
Relieved, I sigh, but the tightness in my heart remains. It accompanies me throughout the day. It's there in the shower, during dance classes, and even during the theory sessions that follow for the freshmen.
Only when I leave the academy exhausted in the evening do I realize what it signifies.
When I get home, Aurora will ask me how today's training went.
Should I tell her the truth?
I wanted to be completely honest with her, but what if my honesty hurts her?
Hands buried deep in my jacket pockets and my gaze fixed on the cobblestone pavement, I trudge through the streets of Paris. As I get closer to our apartment building, I have less and less of an idea of how to behave when we meet face-to-face.
Nonsense.
I will tell Aurora about Alice's intrusive behavior. And that it feels wrong to dance with anyone but her.
Determined, I enter the apartment building and climb the stairs to the second floor. Once I reach the door, my plan is set.
I won't hide anything from Aurora, even if it won't be easy.
Though I force a carefree smile on my face as I unlock the door, I still feel like I owe her an explanation. "I'm back," I call into the hallway but receive no answer.
Immediately, I'm worried.
How many times have I entered this apartment and found Aurora sitting on the sofa, lost in her thoughts, not even noticing my arrival?
