CHAPTER 14 LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This chapter covers Mr. X, Sprig's Birthday, and Spider-Sprig! Get ready for the lore and trama!

Hehehehehehehehehehehe

“Are you ready to go?”

She stands behind you. She isn’t threatening, not scary, not hurried, just… there. It’s a comfort — maybe — as She rests a hand on your shoulder.

She’s not much taller than you, skin the same tone with the same birthmark on her finger. Voice slightly deeper — more mature. You don’t look at her yet, still staring at the audience, at the lights.

In this space you’ve called a second home for 12 years. Hours upon hours spent within these halls. You’ve found friends, role models, your sister in everything but blood.

Your sister pulls you from the stage and She follows behind, unseen to everyone but you. You wonder if your sister has a She too.

As you finish packing your things and take one last look around, you can’t help but smile. So many children have found this space as you have. They’ve grown here. You have too.

Then you see a young girl run through the doors, similarly invisible to all but you.

Because it is you. Freshly 6 years old, running to her first ever class here, your mother following close behind. You watch as she takes in this place for the first time, slipping on jazz and tap shoes, delighting in the feeling. You watch her run to your father during tech rehearsal as he lights her pieces. You watch her start her journey here.

And you stand with Her hand on your shoulder. 12 years. The second longest time of anyone else in your graduating class. Only your sister beat you — clocking in at 15 years, one more than anyone in the program should be able to achieve.

Your younger self turns to you and you smile, pushing her forward to the start of this wonderful chapter of her life. Finally you turn to look at Her. She’s you, 4 years in the future, newly graduated with a BFA degree in hand. There are tears in Her eyes too. You nod and take Her hand.

“I’m ready,” you say, and together, you step out of the double doors and into the next chapter of your life. You will be back to watch, to visit, but the time has come to say goodbye.

So thank you, to the school I cannot name in this. Thank you for bringing me family, community, love, and so much more.

Last night I graduated from the dance school I’ve been attending since I was 6 years old. Their program ends when you graduate high school. Each graduate gets to dance or sing a solo — there were 11 of us this year, one of the biggest graduating classes in a long while.

To the tune and click of my tap shoes on that stage one last time, I’ll take a bow and smile. I’m never gonna not dance again, so let the music play until the end.

I’ll never stop.

With all of my being, love,

Chaoter 9 is uppppppppppp woooooo