Page 31 of I Dated a Retired Hero

She hummed and puttered around from dawn until noon and then wandered back to have lunch. She took her sandwich out to the porch and sat out there, looking at the sealed barn that seemed to be mocking her.

She finished her sandwich and some iced tea, and with a deep breath, she crossed her yard and went to the barn. She opened the locks, one after the other, lifted the crossbar, and set it aside. She opened both doors and let the light in. The floors were dusty, and the barre was ready. The mirrors were covered with cloth, and she smiled at the serene aura of waiting that her studio had. She bit her lip and debated whether or not to do what she was about to do, and then, she grinned. Time to get back to the barre.

She was sweating but happy when she finished. She could have done most of the work with a light wave of heat, but it would have damaged the wood.

Now that her studio was ready, she needed some new pointe shoes. Her old ones had disintegrated.

She checked the time and saw nineteen messages. Shrugging, she took off and headed for the shoe shop. They were still open, and she still had time.

The fitter had wanted her to try on more than one shoe, but time was limited, so she bought the three pairs he had in mind and headed home again.

While her dinner heated, she sat and sewed the elastic onto her shoes. She wasn’t performing, so she didn’t need to break them in much.

She was happy. She had forgotten how much just the routine of preparing the room and the shoes made her happy. It was a forgotten joy, and she was reclaiming it.

She put on her shoes, started the music, and began a slow warm-up.

It turned out to be a really good night.

There was a knock on the door to the barn. Litha slowly completed her movements then turned and walked over. “Hey, Kritz. Hey, Arcady.”

Arcady was standing in the doorway and staring. “You are a ballerina?”

“I was.”

Kritz came forward and said, “You are in a better frame of mind.”

“Dancing always lifts my spirits. I had forgotten how much it helps actually to move my body.”

She took a towel from a hanger and blotted at her neck and cleavage. She looked at Kritz. “What’s up?”

“We have an active with a containment issue. She says she knows you.”

Litha blinked. “What’s her name?”

“She calls herself Feral.”

Litha paused. “I will just shower and change. There is iced tea in the fridge.”

She took off her shoes, put on her fluffy boots, and walked back to the house. Arcady followed and asked, “Wait, so you really do that?”

“Yes. I used to do it for a living.”

“Wow. I have been to the ballet a few times with Kritz, and it always made me want to learn. I love the shoes.”

“The shoes come after your training when your ankles and feet are strong enough. Those who try it early end up injuring themselves.” She entered the house and walked straight to the shower, hanging her shoes up on their peg on the way.

The shower was quick, and since her hair was already rock solid, she was ready after a quick rinse. She grabbed one of the water bottles she stashed in the house and walked to her bedroom, drying by heating her skin.

She dressed quickly and kept drinking as she slapped a sandwich together and pressed it between her palms. Heating it into a grilled cheese in seconds.

When ready, she looked to a stunned Arcady, who muttered, “I didn’t know you could do that.”

Litha smiled. “I have been in complete control of my activation for twenty years. You think I can’t make a sandwich?” She took a bite.

“No, I just... they said you leaked radiation.”

“When I was fourteen. I did that when I was fourteen. I have been in control as long as you have been alive, Arcady.”

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