Little Ballerina (A WinterWidow Story)

Ch. 26 Memories of the Ballet

Falling.

That's what Ekaterina felt.

Felt as if she was falling down endlessly, unable to hold on.

And as she fell the memories passed her by.

Bloody knuckles and tired feet.

Rows and rows of beds occupied by girls her age.

Strikes and blows, it was as if she could feel them.

A boy with dark hair and blue eyes offering her a hand with a remark that she couldn't quite hear.

She continued to stumble down this rabbit hole of her mind, no end in sight.

She's older now.

Her punches are stronger and her kicks more useful.

There are less girls in those beds.

The only thing that remains the same is the dark haired boy.

He's the one constant.

Sneaking into the kitchen after lights out.

Now they are hand in hand laying in the grass, watching the stars.

There's only five girls left now.

Ekaterina could feel her body jerking and falling but her mind was elsewhere- on a journey to the past.

Fear- it's coursing through her body.

Madam B is there and the two girls know it's the last fight.

It always ends in a fight.

Why does it always end in a fight?

But then... she's won.

She should feel happy but all she feels is an overwhelming sadness. Like she'd lost a part of herself.

Now she sees a redheaded woman and a man with dark hair.

And she doesn't know why but they feel familiar, safe.

Like a home she'd never known.

So she goes with them- without a fight- she goes.

It's like watching a film- like she's watching her life flash before her eyes.

The next moments are some of her happiest.

Painting her nails with a dark haired woman, laughing and joking.

Sitting on the kitchen counter while pancakes were being flipped and coffee was being brewed.

Her little slice of heaven- home- she'd never had one of those before. It was nice.

Too nice to last.

She supposed all the good and beautiful things in this world just weren't meant to last forever.

Every line has its end.

The memories that came next felt more like a nightmare

She went with the bad man freely. She didn't care what he did to her as long as those she left behind were safe.

She remembered the trainings and the tests and the poking and prodding she went through.

The Asset.

That's what she'd become.

The Little Ballerina.

Cold, ruthless, calculating.