Obsession [slow updates]

15

Nicki watched as Beyoncé rehearsed. She was so focused without a crowd, practicing the routine over and over. It wasn't a scheduled rehearsal with her team of dancers, just Beyoncé going back and forth on this choreography.

She had improvised this during a performance and regretted it instantly, until she saw the playback. Seeing the crowds response and how it actually looked, she worked with her choreographer to sharpen her movements and to get it down to something that looked intentional. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, as the music played on repeat, step after step, filling the room with an added pulse.

Nicki had never seen her in the zone but this was it. Beyoncé was in the zone. Her face was makeup free and she wore a hoodie and matching sweats. She could see herself in the mirrors, no matter how she turned, she saw herself. Her body moved like liquid repeating the steps over and over. She was sweating, but in the good way, the liquid of her hard work dripping from her skin. Her light hair was tied up and her baby hairs pressed flat against her face as she repeated the moves like a soldier in training.

She wasn't performing, she was practicing so her facial expressions were serious and focused. She looked like she was mad at someone, her nostrils flaring every so often as she breathed. Beyoncé knew she probably looked crazy but this was how she learned, repeating the moves until she could trust herself to be perfect. The point was be so confident she didn't even think about what she was doing. Nicki watched intently, feeling herself fall even deeper.

Beyoncé continued to practice, training her body until the sounds of eight counts faded and all she heard was the music, and her feet tapping the ground in the same rhythm over and over. She watched herself in the mirror, noting each time her body failed her. She noticed her foot slightly off and rolled her eyes before she wiped the sweat that had formed above her lip, reminding herself of how to move. She hadn't quite got it so she continued to push and push.

She drank some water and continued. She would push her body until it was ready. She knew all these rehearsals didn't matter in the end if it didn't look right on stage. There was a science to performing and knowing what a crowd would respond to. Beyoncé couldn't explain it, but she could sense it. She needed to make sure that her body was prepared. Concentrating, she poked her tongue around her mouth, knitting her brows before she went again. Over and over until it became muscle memory.

Beyoncé continued, and her choreographer watched her, used to the way she practiced like drills. Beyoncé shook her head again, clearly noticing some imperfection, and the track was restarted as she began the routine again.

Dance was one of the ways her job allowed her to express feelings. But, for Beyoncé it was a pure energy transfer. She took energy from the crowd and gave it back to them. The routine was just a conduit for sharing her energy with those who loved her. She moved and pushed herself, going back and forth, visualising the crowd in her minds eye.

"Shit!" she hissed gripping her knee as she almost fell. She didn't fall but she wound up on the floor as white hot pain spread through her body. "Shiit" she yelled again shutting her eyes and within seconds a nurse was by her side, checking her over.

"You're okay," the experienced voice spoke pressing into certain spots on her knee. "It's bursitis" the nurse spoke, gently checking for any signs of more swelling.

Beyoncé nodded mostly out of habit. Her eyes were closed as she waited out the pain. Her lips were still slightly ajar, still recovering from the exercise she'd been doing.

"The sacs in your knee are a little inflamed, but it's temporary. Don't worry, no performance tonight. Rest and you'll be fine for tomorrow."

Beyoncé sighed and bit down on her lower lip. The woman spoke as if she knew Beyoncé's concern would be the performance. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Beyoncé knew the drill - rest, ice, compression, and elevation. She's would be fine. Her knee would be fine. Her PT would help her to strengthen the muscles, and worst case scenario she'd get a corticosteroid injection.