Neon fascination abides and shines on all sides
of this metro megalopolis,
the sights and sounds heightening and
intensifying,
but all they are to her at this moment
are another thing to curse
as she made her way home,
tightening her wool peacoat around her
lithe athletic and skinny frame,
her pace quickening.

How dare they! is all she can think
a moment of triumph short lived as the
other girl she'd always been nice to
always gave tips to,
took a spot that was rightfully hers,
all her hard work for nothing.

Hours of painstaking, jumps, lunges,
squats, holds, feet burning,
toes literally on fire, ankles feeling
like they would give way so many times.
But they didn't.
The scars made her physically stronger,
but at this moment, on her way home,
she couldn't stop her hands from clenching,
and then unclenching.
She needed the warmth of her apartment.
She needed to cuddle with her puppy.
a hot bath, some chocolate,
...and him, if he was home.

The door to her place slammed shut, and she
slumped onto the couch
in a heap, her tiny beagle puppy leaping to
lay beside her.
She smiled briefly as he licked her hands.
she flicked on the tv, crossing her arms as she saw
the backstabber.
The schemer.
The liar.
She imagined with a little bit of glee, how it would feel to
push her off the roof of the auditorium, then shook her head free of such selfish thoughts.
Worry not, be strong, her lover would say.
She did not feel so strong at this moment.
She hugged her puppy as he laid in her arms chewing his toy,
and her eyes welled up.

Minutes later, her lover came through the door,
and her head picked up as their puppy bounded off
the couch to run to his legs, eagerly wagging his tail.
He closed the door took off his coat, and sat beside
his lady, the dancer.
They talked.
She vented.
He let her, keeping a steady hand on her leg the other
on her shoulder as she began to get animated about her
"stupid revenge fantasies,"
and then he smiled and chuckled
she didn't stand to look very appealing in prison
orange.

She smiled for the first time in an hour, and she couldn't
help throwing her arms around him, and her tears were
a bit more happy this time.
In all the emotional commotion she had realized she hadn't
taken her boots off, so he took them off for her.
He went to the bathroom and started the water
in the tub for her.
She needed a soak, but first he kneeled in
front of her and massaged her tired, worn, and
arthritic feet, kissing her wounds gently.
He grinned and lifted her in his arms, admonishing
that she wont be using her feet for a few more minutes,
bringing her to the bathroom as she lay hear head on his
shoulder, sighing contentedly.

As she washed her cares away alone in the bathtub,
he watched the game with the beagle pup, rubbing his
belly as his favorite team scored.
She sighed.
She may not have made prima ballerina tonight...
...but as she looked on "her boys" enjoying the night
on the sofa from the comfort of the open door of the
tub she soaked in, bathed in the warmth of the soothing
water and bubbles surrounding her to the shoulders,
...as far as she was concerned, it was okay.
For this moment, her heart danced even more than
her tired weak body.
And all was well.
Worry not, be strong.
And she would.