The impact was hard… Shards of razor-sharp glass caused Ivy excruciating pain. Then there was no more pain… Just sounds of ear-piercing sirens and deafening screams… Lightning cut across the sky like a pair of scissors slicing through paper… The world went a deep inky black…

A two days earlier…

Ivy tied up her cotton candy pink point shoelaces and walked into dance class. The rehearsal room was the same as usual, the gleaming dance mirrors lined against the brick wall. It gave it a rustic type of look. She started her tiresome worm-up. Mrs. Audrey walked into the class her long silky hazel hair tied up into a flawless bun. Her face was featureless as usual, and her lips pursed. “We can begin rehearsing Ivy,” She said.

Ivy was a very talented point dancer, always top of the class. She had recently been given the lead part in the ballet production of ‘The Nutcracker’. Ivy had been preparing for the opening show for months. This was a major performance. She rehearsed for hours on that very long Thursday night, but it would be all worth it in a weeks’ time.

Ivy home drove that night, for she had just gotten her license the week before. The brilliant New-York city lights illuminated the clear, starry night sky.

That night in bed thoughts of stress rushed through her mind, ‘I have to pass my end of the year exams!’ ‘The nutcracker is next week, and I’m the lead part!’ Were some of the thoughts that ran through her head like race cars zooming down the racetrack at top speed.

The next mourning the sun poured into Ivy’s room like melted butterscotch, it took less than five minutes for every inch of the room to be illuminated with warm sunlight. Ivy awoke with the sound of the birds singing cheerful songs. She got dressed and walked downstairs. In the kitchen a bowl of cereal was waiting for her, while her mom got her little sister Lacey ready for school. The kitchen was painted eggshell white and the cabinets were a light sage. An island was in the middle which was the same color as the cabinets. Ivy sat down on one of the three stools by the island and ate her breakfast.

“Bye mom,” she called as she walked out the door to head to school. “See you sweetie,” her mom called after her. The walk to school was very peaceful. It was a splendid summer mourning, it looked as though it was going to be a perfect day. Ivy’s long strawberry blond hair was flowing behind her in the mild wind. She walked up to the huge scarlet brick building and didn’t come out for a long time. It was a challenging day at school and after was going to be a long dance class.

That night after dance class, as Ivy was driving home, she heard the pitter patter of rain hit her windshield. She started to drive slower. The wind was picking up at a rapid speed.

Suddenly Ivy saw a blinding gold light hit her glossy eyes…

The windshield shattered…

The Impact was hard…Shards of razor -sharp glass caused Ivy excruciating pain… Then there was no more pain…Just sounds of ear-piercing sirens and defining screams…Lightning cut across the sky like a giant pair of scissors slicing through paper…The world went a deep inky black…

***

The crowd went wild. Whine red roses flew across the stage. The scarlet curtains closed.

“What an astounding performance!” said a woman in broken English. She had silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes and was a very skeletal and petite woman. Ivy recognized her at once. Her name was Nadia Tana. She was a very famous Russian ballet dancer. Nadia had been Ivy’s idol since she could remember. “I myself have preformed the Nutcracker and seen it many times before,” Nadia went on. “But I have never seen one quite like this!”

Ivy was bewildered. Was the most famous Russian ballet dancer congratulating her on her performance?  The only words Ivy could let put were “how are you here?” “Oh, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I so very sorry. I’m sure you have heard of me. I am a famous ballet dancer, Nadia Tana. I am a friend of your dance teacher, Mrs. Audrey, she invited me here to watch you perform, and I must say, it was worth the trip!” “Thank you,” Ivy said.

The deep inky black returned and swallowed up the scene…

“Boo!” “Boo!” The audience roared. A tear ran down Ivy’s soft cheek. She wanted the scarlet curtains to close so badly. When they finally did a feeling of relief washed over her. But the relief did not last for long. Everyone backstage was either laughing or imitating the crowd.

Ivy spotted a girl with silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes, and was very skeletal and petite. She shook her head with disappointment and faded from sight.

Again, the deep ink black retuned and swallowed up the scene…

Ivy was didn’t know where she was. Pitch-black was all she could see. She was very peaceful in this pitch-black place. ‘Why would she ever want to leave?’

A woman came holding a lantern filled with golden light that illuminated only herself and Ivy. The woman had silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes and was very skeletal and petite. Ivy knew she had seen her a least once before, but where? The woman had a rather distressed look on her face. “Do come back,” she said in a soft concerned voice. ‘But why?’ Ivy thought long and hard about this decision until finally she stood up steadily and walked towards the woman. She held out her hand and ivy took it. Bony, but gentile.

***

“She’s awaked!” She’s awake!” was the first think ivy heard when she awoke. She was lying in a hospital bed. The room was very busy nurses and doctors running around everywhere! There were three people sitting in three blue stools. Their facial expressions were very bright and cheerful.

Two of the three were Ivy’s parents. Her mom had huge bags under her eyes from lack of sleep and stress but looked very comforted. Her dads usually well-kept thick hazel hair was very messy and filthy and was holding a coffee.

The third person looked strangely familiar. She had silvery blond hair that went down to her waist, sapphire eyes, and was very skeletal and petite. “Hello?” Ivy said bewildered. Her mother fell into her arms and started to sob happy tears. Her father gave a soft pleasant smile, and the third person looked reassured. “Oh, darling!” her mother said through tears. “You were in a car accident and broke leg and fractured your wrist.” Who that woman?” Ivy asked. “Oh, I completely forgot! This is Nadia Tana; she is a very famous Russian ballet dancer. Honey I don’t want to overwhelm you since you just woke up but… Nadia is here because she wants to offer you a dance position in her upcoming ballet school! She needs to know as soon as possible.”

That’s when it clicked, of course, Ivy knew who she was! “Of course! I would love to join your ballet school!” Ivy said excitedly. “It settled then!” Nadia said in broken English. “Oh, honey I don’t want to overwhelm you any more than I already have but I just thought you would like to know that you missed the nutcracker. They had to get your understudy to go on for you. I’m so sorry; I know you were looking forward to that performance.” Ivy’s mom said sympathetically. “Its ok mom, I understand.”

After Ivy’s injuries had healed, she joined Mrs. Nadia’s School of ballet. From there she was offered many other ballet opportunities, and soon became one of the most well-known ballerinas in the world! Ivy encourages young ballerinas to keep going even if you hit bumps along the road!