As I was dancing my father walked in. I couldn't believe that he had come to my school!
"Michael! Why did you skip your tutor session?" my dad demanded. I glanced at the clock and realized that my session should have ended two hours ago, I had been dancing for longer than I thought. But I couldn't help it, sometimes I just lost track of time. When I didn't respond to my dad he became furious.
"Dance is something you do at weddings Michael, it is not a career." At my fathers words I grew furious. How could he say that! Becoming a dancer is my life's goal.
"I am not going to be a doctor. I will be a professional dancer," I said defiantly.
Furious, my dad slapped me across the face before I even had time to react. But, he didn't stop there. He thrust me against the wall and held me there by my neck, almost chocking me. Using his free hand, he punched me in the stomach, and I doubled over in pain. My father took this as an opportunity to kick me to the ground.
"You might want to rethink that Michael," he said threateningly as he left me on the ground, gasping in pain.
Glancing into the wall length mirror of the dance room, I could already make out a hand shaped bruise forming on my neck. Quickly, I pulled on my turtle neck sweater to cover it. However, there was nothing that could be done about the split lip I had and the forming bruise on my cheek.
Without any other way to express my anger, I danced. I danced the most viscous dance I have ever danced. My body whipped through the air like a blade and my movements screamed emotion. As I finished, I heard approaching footsteps and flinched slightly, hoping it wasn't my father.
"So beautiful," I heard Tina say, and I instantly relaxed.
I sat on the ground, not facing her.
"I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it," I assured her.
"It's okay Mike, it was understandable. I know you have a lot going on," she said. For a few moments, silence filled the air, and then she spoke again.
"You have to know by now," she began.
"Know what?" I wondered.
"You aren't the best singer. And you don't talk much. But when I see you dance, that's why I fell in love with you," she said sincerely. A feeling of happiness came over me. Tina said she loved me!
"Tina, I love you too," I replied, turning to face her.
As I turned to face her, she gave me a look of concern.
"Mike, what happened to you?" she said gesturing towards my face. I panicked for a second, and then made up a lie.