DANCE TO FREEDOM

Chapters: oneshot
Type: vignette
Rating: PG
Main characters: River Tam
Timeline: Anywhere during the series
Summary: River and dancing
Beta Reader: none
Disclaimer: Don't own the show; don't own the characters (sadly).
Written: May, 2005


Another night, another nightmare.

She wakes up, sweating, in her bed and the room swirls around her. She blinks back tears, exhales deeply. She pushes the memories away and sits up, before throwing the encasing blankets off of her.

Everything is dark, everything is silent.

The only sounds come from the ship's engine. It's like a distant, low, thrumming hum, but she doesn't pay it any attention. She walks the length of the hallway and goes down the stairs. There's nobody around; all of the crew is fast asleep. Her companions are struggling with their own pasts, fighting their own sets of haunting shadows. So many secrets. They don't know it, but she sees it all.

She understands, but she doesn't comprehend.

Objects are easy; objects don't mean what you think. But people… people are complicated. They think they know it all, but they don't see half of it. They have no idea what it's like for her. Secrets, lies, shadows —ghosts, so many ghosts — trapped inside her skull. Hidden in every dark corner of every room; lurking, waiting... waiting for the perfect moment to attack her.

She takes off her boots, she starts to dance.

Bare foot meet cold, hard floor. White skin caresses silver metal. She dances and nothing else matters. She swirls and the dreams whirl away. She spins, closes her eyes and in her head, she touches the sky.

She's flying, high in the clouds, and the memories are stuck down below. They are trapped away, out of reach. She turns and turns on herself, and she flies, higher and higher. She spins and she's free.

"No power in the 'verse can stop me."