By Cynthia Schuerr (All Day~Speechless~Dinner)
Arabella took one last glance at herself before curtain call. The lights dimmed and the music began. It was time to dance.
Between the pirouettes and the jetes, her dark brown eyes scanned the front row of the audience. An empty seat remained…he wasn’t there.
At side stage, Rufus, the choreographer, motioned for her attention. It didn’t matter. She knew the routine as well as the back of her hand and didn’t need his prompting. Deaf and blind to him she only watched the empty chair.
Why was he not there? His call earlier promised a great surprise after her performance. She had thought of it all day. Ever so certain, he would appear before the second Act began, she immersed herself in what was to be her very best dance… for him. The adage calmed her heart and slowed her breathing, until she fell to perfect balletic movements.
As Arabella elongated her arms in gentlest seduction, she knew the allouge was a perfect one. The audience stood to cheer at her amazing skill…..but where was he?
~~~~~~~~~~
He sped as fast as his Peugeot would let him, weaving in and out of yellow and white lines and dodging anything that stood in his way. Today of all days, the most important day of his life, he couldn’t seem to bring it all together in a timely fashion. He imagined the wondering look on her face and the disappointment in her eyes.
“Come on…come on,” he told himself. Though it didn’t help him through the traffic, which was now at a standstill, he banged an open palm on the dashboard.
The show ended with accolades from the audience and tears streaming down Arabella’s face. How could this happen…how could Alec not be there for her, now. She ran to her dressing suite with a broken heart, locking the door behind her, not able to bear the customary second curtsey.
She heard the calls from the audience as well as from Rufus. Ignoring them, she gathered her clothes and made her way through the tunnel that leads to the street in front of the theatre. She worried that Alec may have been hurt or worse. It was not his nature to stand her up. He never had in the past. Now with all of the plans for a special dinner and a surprise, she just couldn’t fathom it. She made her way across the street.
My phone…I left my phone in the suite. She was sure there’d be a message from Alec.
Quickly approaching the theatre, Alec now hoped Arabella was still waiting for him. He left several messages, but knew she wouldn’t get them until after the show. He was almost there. He glanced over at the perfect little box, tied with the palest yellow bow. His heart was so full of her…………
She ran back to retrieve her phone. There were so many cars and glaring lights.
Alc heard the screeching of brakes. He was speechless. Arabella looked up. He saw that smile that was only for him.
The screeching tires were his and he couldn’t stop.
~~~~~~~~~~
White haired and alone, he watched her obsessively. His eyes locked onto her petite features and delicate beauty… as if they were painted under his brow. Not even a blink. Only he could hear the music that lead to final arabesque.
As he slowly closed the music box….ending the pirouette…he held the ring in his hand and remembered her beautiful smile… the smile that was only for him.
Arabella took one last glance at herself before curtain call. The lights dimmed and the music began. It was time to dance.
Between the pirouettes and the jetes, her dark brown eyes scanned the front row of the audience. An empty seat remained…he wasn’t there.
At side stage, Rufus, the choreographer, motioned for her attention. It didn’t matter. She knew the routine as well as the back of her hand and didn’t need his prompting. Deaf and blind to him she only watched the empty chair.
Why was he not there? His call earlier promised a great surprise after her performance. She had thought of it all day. Ever so certain, he would appear before the second Act began, she immersed herself in what was to be her very best dance… for him. The adage calmed her heart and slowed her breathing, until she fell to perfect balletic movements.
As Arabella elongated her arms in gentlest seduction, she knew the allouge was a perfect one. The audience stood to cheer at her amazing skill…..but where was he?
~~~~~~~~~~
He sped as fast as his Peugeot would let him, weaving in and out of yellow and white lines and dodging anything that stood in his way. Today of all days, the most important day of his life, he couldn’t seem to bring it all together in a timely fashion. He imagined the wondering look on her face and the disappointment in her eyes.
“Come on…come on,” he told himself. Though it didn’t help him through the traffic, which was now at a standstill, he banged an open palm on the dashboard.
The show ended with accolades from the audience and tears streaming down Arabella’s face. How could this happen…how could Alec not be there for her, now. She ran to her dressing suite with a broken heart, locking the door behind her, not able to bear the customary second curtsey.
She heard the calls from the audience as well as from Rufus. Ignoring them, she gathered her clothes and made her way through the tunnel that leads to the street in front of the theatre. She worried that Alec may have been hurt or worse. It was not his nature to stand her up. He never had in the past. Now with all of the plans for a special dinner and a surprise, she just couldn’t fathom it. She made her way across the street.
My phone…I left my phone in the suite. She was sure there’d be a message from Alec.
Quickly approaching the theatre, Alec now hoped Arabella was still waiting for him. He left several messages, but knew she wouldn’t get them until after the show. He was almost there. He glanced over at the perfect little box, tied with the palest yellow bow. His heart was so full of her…………
She ran back to retrieve her phone. There were so many cars and glaring lights.
Alc heard the screeching of brakes. He was speechless. Arabella looked up. He saw that smile that was only for him.
The screeching tires were his and he couldn’t stop.
~~~~~~~~~~
White haired and alone, he watched her obsessively. His eyes locked onto her petite features and delicate beauty… as if they were painted under his brow. Not even a blink. Only he could hear the music that lead to final arabesque.
As he slowly closed the music box….ending the pirouette…he held the ring in his hand and remembered her beautiful smile… the smile that was only for him.
We love hearing from readers. Leave a comment won't you? Thanks!