"Birds flying high

You know how I feel "


Adrenaline can be someone's natural happy high. Rose always has had a high tolerance for it, if there is such a thing. Yet it can instill the bad kind of fear into your mind and body too, the kind that pings your primitive self, your survival drive. That's the bad sort. That was what she was experiencing now. It's not that she didn't want to do it. She had seen the demonstrations and she watched tons of videos online of past lifts. There was an archive of six years' worth of potentially dangerous spectacles for her to consume. But in all honesty, she hadn't wanted to before now.

It was week two, of the fullest on, yet exciting new venture. Strictly Come Dancing was a whirlwind and she barely has had time to process that the jive is over and done with now. It was all about the Salsa. Giovanni had warned her not to get too invested in each dance because the week goes by so fast and then, if you are lucky, it is on to the next one. Short term memory is needed in order to keep you from going crazy.

However, the only thing that was driving her crazy right now... was the overwhelming aversion to being thrown over someone's shoulder, and the looming possibility of not only falling, but kicking someone hard enough to give them a concussion.

"I just …don't think I can do it…" she says, her arms folded across her stomach, protectively. Long gone was the excitement and the reality of being lifted and trusting someone in that way was looming.

Giovanni walked over to her and placed both hands on her shoulders. It forced her to meet his understanding but determined gaze. "Rose... I know that it is scary. but I have been dancing for twenty-three years …and… I have never dropped someone. Not once. You will be safe with me. "

Rose nods and smiles slightly. "I do feel very safe with you…but … I just don't want to mess up…"

The smile she gets from her partner, tells her everything she needs to know. He knows she can do this, and she trusts him enough to let him take care of her in this way.


He was right. She is slowly realising – that much to her annoyance – he usually is. Especially when it comes to dancing. You would swear it's his job or something. The next three and a half days of training went by in a tired, frustrating but most importantly thrilling blur. Then it was show day.

She was realising too that Monday to Friday her partner was one person, but on Saturdays he was much different. There was a sense of professionalism and decorum during the week that seemed to fizzle out come show day. Instead, he was much more relaxed and there for her. Probably because she was a walking bundle of nerves again.

"I don't want to fall on camera…that would be so embarrassing"

"You won't"

"But I could..if I don't place my feet right…or my hands"

The director is beckoning them forward. Tess is no doubt setting up their training VT. Giovanni's hand has a solid unyielding grip on her own, but he isn't leading her out to the lights, camera and waiting audience.

There are plenty of distractions surrounding them, but she can only really feel her out heart ready to leap out of her chest, and the supporting fingers interlaced with her own. Her feet are shuffling back and forth, trying to memorize the way she is supposed to move for the Salsa.

She feels something else. A hand on her face. It is pulling her back to familiar brown eyes.

"If you fall.. I will catch you. But you won't…You will do great "

It was his never-ending belief in her that made it seem possible. When he thought and knew she could do it. She believed it herself more and more. Each day she was realizing just how much she had to learn, but how much she can achieve.

Then a third point of pressure. Lips on her cheek, but unlike his hand anchoring her to the floor, his kiss is gone just as quick as it happened. It was reassuring. Knowing that someone was there to keep you grounded, keep you sane, and keep you smiling.