Page 9 of 1 Last Shot

Hailey must notice because she says, "Tell you what. Come with me to the fights on Friday night. Do you remember that guy who was trying to punch a hole through the floor when you first walked into the gym? Kane? He has his first fight this weekend with Bulldog MMA, so everyone is going to show their support. Come with me. I'll introduce you to the world of MMA."

My nerves have me hesitating, but then I remind myself that this is exactly the reason I moved down to Philly in the first place. To have new experiences.

While also trying to convince myself that it has nothing to do with the way my heart starts to race at even the mention of the guy fighting.Kane.What a ridiculously hot name.

"Okay," I tell Hailey with a small smile. "I’m in."

4

ISABELLA

By the time I walk into the Philadelphia Ballet, it's taken me eight days to work up the courage to do it.

I haven't stepped foot into a ballet environment since I made the decision that changed my entire life. Quitting first the NYC Ballet, and then my job as a children's ballet teacher at the local school, was the hardest thing I had ever done. But I knew I couldn't dance at the level my company needed me at, and teaching the kids was just too hard of a reminder.

That day was eight months ago.

Now, stepping into a school again, it feels both like returning homeandlike opening up an old wound.

"Hi, can I help you?" the girl at the front desk greets with a smile.

"Hi, I called about registering?"

"Oh, that's right, Mrs. Martin said someone was coming by today. Can I schedule you for an audition?"

It should be a humbling question. Itishumbling. It's been years since I've been in a ballet environment where I wasn't recognized, and although a lot of my peers in New York would be offended, the only thing I feel is the tension in my chest loosening. Because it means I don't have to beIsabella, a soloist in the NYC Ballet. I can just be… another dancer.

I open my mouth to answeryes, I'd be happy to audition,but I never get the chance.

"Rebecca, don't you know who you're talking to? That's Isabella Brooks. She doesn't need to audition. She'll be joining our Professional Program."

I turn a tight smile on the older woman walking toward us. I looked up the academy before coming in, of course, so I know she's the Artistic Director and main teacher for the school. I also know she had a very impressive career and an even more storied teaching history after she retired. I had assumed she'd recognize my name, but was mentally hoping she wouldn't.

"Mrs. Martin, it's so nice to meet you. Thank you for letting me come in."

"Of course, darling. Come over here, let's chat for a minute."

I take a deep breath and follow her into an office.

Mrs. Martin jumps right into asking the hard questions. Not that I expected anything different—I’ve learned that high-level teachers don't like to waste time.

"So, tell me why you're here. Why do you want to join the school?"

I, on the other hand, hesitate before answering. "I want to dance again. I miss it. I don't… feel like myself without it."

She nods. "So even without ballet as a career, you want to dance?"

My answering nod is tiny.

"And where do you stand with your injury? Is it fully healed?"

Injury. Like it's singular. Like I didn’t have a number of injuries over a number of years that eventually weakened my left leg so much that I couldn't dance to my full potential.

But I know which one she's asking about. The big one that got the ballet community's attention. The one that happened right as I reached my long-time dream of becoming a soloist in the greatest ballet company in the country, right after the best performance of my career.Thatinjury.

I clear my throat. "My foot is healed. They had to operate after the last stress fracture, but I completed all the rehab and can use it to full capacity."

I don’t say that the reason I’m here, and not in New York, is because I can keep up withherdancers and not the ones in New York. That because the training here isn’t as rigorous, it reduces what used to be the likely probability of yet another injury.

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