Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Seven: The Dancer
Clara retired from the ballet company on a warm Saturday in June.
She was forty-two years old. Her body was tired. Her joints ached. But her heart was full.
The company threw a retirement gala in her honor. The theater was filled with people—family, friends, colleagues, and fans.
Lina sat in the front row, Ethan beside her. Victoria and Victor and Katherine sat behind them. The family filled the theater.
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Clara danced one last time.
She performed the role that had made her famous—the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. She danced with grace and joy, her face lit up with a smile.
Lina watched her and cried.
Ethan held her hand.
"She's beautiful," he said.
Lina leaned into him. "She is."
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After the performance, Clara stood on the stage, accepting flowers and applause.
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you all for coming."
She looked at her family.
"Thank you for believing in me," she said. "Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for loving me."
Lina cried.
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The family celebrated after the gala.
The restaurant was filled with people—dancers and musicians and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate.
Clara sat at the head of the table, her flowers in her arms, her smile bright.
"I did it," she said.
Lina hugged her.
"You did it," she said.
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That night, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
The penthouse was quiet. The family was gone. The memories remained.
"How do you feel?" Ethan asked.
"Full," Lina said. "Not from the food. From... everything. From watching her. From seeing her shine."
Ethan put his arm around her. "She gets it from you."
"Get what?"
"The grace. The joy. The ability to dance through life."
Lina leaned into him. "She gets it from you too."
"Maybe. Or maybe she gets it from herself. Maybe she's just who she's supposed to be."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Grace, the astronaut. Stella, the scientist. Clara, the dancer. Samuel, the doctor. Eleanor, the dreamer. Aurora, the stargazer. Melody, the musician. All of them perfect, just as they were.
"I can't wait to see who they become," Lina said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"Neither can I," he said.
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End of Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Seven