Played like a mantra inside my overstimulated mind as I hesitantly drifted away into the luring darkness whispering tantalizing promises that were thought to bring temporary tranquility; finding myself desperately clinging with both hands to the untrustworthy promise that always left me unsatisfied and wanting.
———————
The pulsating, burning pain of every muscle within me being stretched far beyond its capacity became normal, one might even say I grew numbed to the gruesome sensation. As the delicate, classical melody meshed with the featherlight tapping of shoes went in one ear and out the other, my limbs continued to stay in motion while my mind analyzed each step making sure it was clean and precise, just how The Director preferred; routinely losing sight of the reality playing before my eyes and simply letting muscle memory perform as instructed. Abruptly inhaling a sharp gasp, I found myself crumbling onto my trembling knees ridden with vibrant purple and red bruises, fear striking my soul at the mere thought of failure as the deafening sound of my own heart filled my ears.
"Неряшливо! Опять! (Sloppy! Again!)" I heard her sharp voice pierce through the bellowing cello like a knives jagged edge as I lifted my porcelain face and blew strands of fiery red hair cemented to my moist skin; every bone in my body screaming in complete agony as it got a teasing taste of relaxation as everything I felt physically crashed over me like a tsunami. Forcing myself to ignore the rapidly spreading wildfire of discomfort, I Intently scanned the vacant, pristine theatre occupied by velvety red chairs. Briefly wincing through the blaring spot light honed in on me, nearly searing my already burning cornea, my wandering eyes caught The Director sitting unimpressed fidgeting with her sleek pen while mercilessly critiquing my every move; not surprised by her regularly shrewd expression sculpted by her slick black hair.
For a split second my mind wandered to a rarely visited path, I found it quite odd that such an architecturally stunning building was nothing but a visage to the naked eye, hiding the world's most lethal weapons behind a pair of mere wooden doors and elegant crimson curtains. "Опять! (Again!)" She repeated with agitation fresh on her tongue continuing to stand from her previously idle position while snapping her fingers furiously towards my slumped, panting figure; her brows furrowing intensely at my delayed response as her cheeks became warm with anger.
Without a single word I immediately resumed proper form and started over as instructed and simply suppressed the nagging pain as I was taught to do, for what seemed to be minutes of a disoriented haze only amounted to seconds in reality; however, she was never one to wait, you simply did as told exactly when instructed to or faced the consequences head on without cowering to the crippling fear. A simple rule to live by.
