“I’ll be waiting for that adventure.” They shared the bed, rain pattering midway through the night. Rebecca suddenly understood why she always slept so soundly to the rhythm of rain. Childhood rainy nights meant sharing with Josette, who patted her gently while weaving tales. The rain’s rhythm, blended with Josette’s soothing voice, always lulled her. Josette asked no more about Vance or their quarrels, but Rebecca sensed she understood implicitly. She slumbered peacefully until late morning, undisturbed by alarms. Her phone, uncharged overnight, had been out of power.
Yet she felt no urgency to revive it. This disconnection from the world was blissfully freeing. Post – rain, the sky was clear. The air carried a moist, earthy freshness unique to the countryside. Josette was absent, likely fetching breakfast. Rebecca got out of bed, stepped into the yard, and inhaled deeply. The sunroom stood empty, except for the barre. It was her old practice spot, untouched for five years, and she presumed it housed clutter now. No longer shunning memories, she approached and opened the door, only to freeze.
Spotless and bare, the place mirrored its state from five years ago. Touching the barre yielded no dust, meaning Josette had cleaned it daily. The glass enclosure, with its high ceiling for flips, had been custom – built for her training. Irresistibly, she drew back the curtains, inviting sunlight to flood in. At the barre, muscle memory surged like a tidal wave. Finally, she hoisted her injured leg onto it. A profound, soul – deep resonance vibrated through her. Tears brimming, she pressed downward.
Some pursuits, once abandoned, proved impossible to reclaim. Rebecca lost count of her tumbles, unable to recapture her former spins and leaps. Another fall brought excruciating pain ; she collapsed, sweat and tears mingling on her face. She surrendered, knowing it was futile. The doctors had declared dancing impossible five years ago. Now her body was as rigid as bamboo, making revival a distant dream. Sensing a presence outside, she looked up. Josette stood beyond the glass with a man who seemed to be Desmond. How had they connected?And had he witnessed her pathetic display? Panic surged, and the mocking laughter of Vance’s friends echoed in her mind. ” She used to dance, but now she’s crippled. What’s the difference from being useless?”
“What can she do for you? Can’t socialize ; might spill tea at home? Vance, water… Like that, right?”
“Vance, water. Ah, I fell. Hold me. ” Terrified, she scrambled to the window, yanking curtains shut in desperation. Huddled behind them, she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling sobs. “Becky? ” Josette called from the door. ” No! Grandma!
Don’t come in, please! ” She strained to steady her voice, concealing the tremor. Tears cascaded regardless. She couldn’t bear Josette seeing her vulnerability, nor an outsider witnessing her degradation. But the door creaked open anyway. Sunlight silhouetted the intruder, stretching their shadow long across the floor. Sitting crumpled, Rebecca shook her head through tears. ” Don’t come closer! You need to leave – just go! ” Desmond ignored her warning, striding forward. Placing his phone on the floor, he extended a hand. ” What are you doing? Get out!” She curled defensively, arms shielding her body. Without a word, he lifted her gently. Music emanated from his phone: Butterfly Lovers. Instinct took over. Supported by his strength, her body unfurled naturally, her arms and legs fluttering like wings. Butterfly Lovers was a duet she had once performed at school and won an award for. Though her leg faltered, the choreography was etched eternally in her muscles. With his steadying presence, she navigated the dance clumsily to its end – her first completion in five years.
As the melody faded, she stood centered in the room, dazed as if dreaming. ” Dancing is a state of mind. As long as you want to dance, you can take flight, ” Desmond said, his eyes shining brightly. ” Sounds familiar? ” It clicked that he was her junior partner in that duet, the one who’d struggled with lifts, dropping her repeatedly. Beneath a tree, in his despair, she’d offered those exact words.
To Rebecca’s astonishment, Desmond was Josette’s student. He’d arrived for a volunteer performance at the local elementary school and bumped into Josette post- arrival, chatting as they walked home. He’d witnessed her attempted dance. The boy who’d once wept in frustration under a tree now lifted her effortlessly and echoed her own encouragement back at her. With another show that afternoon, he stayed briefly for water before departing, promising to return for dinner. Rebecca’s rekindled dance passion kept her restless in the sunroom all afternoon.
She tackled basic routines, but fatigue set in quickly, forcing her to rest on the floor repeatedly. This cycle consumed the hours until Desmond returned, finding her breathless and sweaty after another session. He entered briskly, greeting her and sitting cross – legged opposite her. ” Performance a hit? You look thrilled,” she noted, his eyes outshining the sunset. He grinned. ” Yes, but that’s not the reason.” Sensing his direction, she quietly waited for him to continue. ” I felt life stirring anew.” His eyes sparkled. She blinked, confused by his words.
He spread his arms and danced lightly. ” The sound of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.” He meant her return to dance. But did her flailing qualify? Even a moth would have moved with more grace. ” Don’t be hard on yourself, ” he encouraged. ” Five years without practice, you were amazing today. It was beautiful. Don’t believe me? I’ll send you the video. ” He pulled out his phone and shared it in their chat. It turned out to be a recording of their duet. She shrugged. ” My phone is not here. ” He handed it over. ” Watch mine then.” Viewing the footage, she smiled bitterly. How had the once – celebrated Swallow devolved into this travesty? ” It was beautiful. You’re forever the most graceful butterfly. Flaws aside, emergence brings new wings, ” he encouraged. His words, though not fully absolving her self – critique, aligned with her resolve. She would grow new wings ; her life didn’t have to hinge solely on dance. She sat by the window, the setting sun casting a golden hue over her face and illuminating her smile. Vance entered then, captivated by her luminous expression.
Noting their heads bent together over the phone, amid the glass room’s dance relics and her practice attire, he tightened his jaw. In five years of marriage, he’d never entered this space. It had remained closed, and he had thought it was storage. Now, as he surveyed the barre and mirrors, his mood soured further. Rebecca sensed an oppressive shift, glancing up. Vance stood backlit, still in yesterday’s clothes. That meant he hadn’t returned home all night. His shirt hadn’t even been changed. Perhaps he had been too busy taking care of Catherine.
His face bore signs of fatigue and irritation, and his hair was a bit messy. As he approached, the sunset blazed behind him, mirroring the fury igniting in his eyes. His voice simmered with restrained anger. ” I’ve called you all day. Is your phone off? ” She couldn’t fathom his ire. Hadn’t he been occupied? Why expect her availability? She’d overlooked his time with Catherine, so what made him think he could snap at her? ” Oh, I didn’t think you’d call,” she replied coolly, fixating on the sunset. She couldn’t tell what was burning her eyes.
The glare or the lipstick stains on his collar and neck.
Had the man she’d loved for so many years and the marriage she’d guarded through every humiliation finally become tainted? ” You didn’t think I’d call? ” Vance glanced at Desmond and gritted his teeth. ” I’m your husband. Who else would call you, if not me? ” Rebecca shook her head and stood up slowly, relying on the barre for support. ” Who knows? I don’t have any ex – boyfriends, after all. ” His expression darkened immediately, his brows knitting together in irritation. ” Rebecca…” From the floor, she picked up a pack of wet wipes and, despite her limp, walked calmly over to him. She drew out a single wipe, gently dabbed his neck to remove the traces of lipstick, and then stuffed the stained wipe into his shirt pocket. ” Josette made coq au vin. It smells amazing. Time for dinner. ” She turned away, then glanced back over her shoulder and added, ” You might want to change that shirt or at least wash it before coming inside, so she won’t ask. Of course, if you don’t care about explaining anything at all, that’s entirely up to you.” She had imagined that Vance might eventually become intimate with Catherine, but she had never anticipated that when the day actually arrived, she would feel a strange, calm ache pressing upon her. She had to press her hand firmly against her chest, fearing that the pain would surge like a tidal wave and overwhelm her. If that happened, she could no longer pretend that everything was fine or maintain the facade of happiness. ” Desmond, dinner’s ready, ” she called out as she exited the room. The tension between the two men was palpable.
They glared at each other like predators ready to pounce, but she wasn’t worried about Vance being hurt. She planned to tell Josette about the divorce later, hoping to shield Josette from the chaotic and tumultuous aspects of her life. ” What makes you think you can eat here? ” Vance said bluntly, abandoning any pretense. Desmond was unfazed. ” Have you ever seen Rebecca dance? ” Vance froze in place, caught off guard. Even with all his experience navigating the cutthroat world of business, he couldn’t decipher the meaning behind Desmond’s words.
Desmond chuckled, following Rebecca to the main house. Five minutes later, Vance entered the room as well, his shirt collar now damp, suggesting he had quickly washed it. He greeted Josette politely, and the latter gave a warm smile. ” Vance, you’re here. Take a seat. I’ll grab a plate and utensils for you.”
“It’s fine. I’ll get them myself. ” He glanced pointedly at Desmond, then added, ” I’m not a guest here, after all. ” He walked into the kitchen, grabbing a plate, utensils, and a spoon.
Acting every bit the host of the house, he ladled soup for Josette, Rebecca, and even Desmond. Desmond declined the offer, but Vance insisted on it. The two men ended up in a back – and – forth standoft that dragged on for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Rebecca intervened by grabbing another bowl for Desmond. ” He likes that particular bowl, so just let him have it. You can use this one instead. ” Vance glared at her, unable to counter. Finally, Josette spoke up. ” Vance, go ahead and eat. We can all serve ourselves.” Perhaps it was because Josette’s kind and genuine personality stood in such stark contrast to the character of Rebecca’s parents, but Vance had always treated her with a notable level of respect. Moreover, he genuinely enjoyed Josette’s cooking, although today’s dishes clearly lacked the spicy kick he preferred. ” I didn’t know you were coming, so I didn’t prepare anything with spicy flavors, ” Josette explained apologetically. ” Next time, I’ll make sure to whip up something special and flavorful just for you. ” Vance blinked in surprise.
“So, you don’t eat spicy food when I’m not around?”
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