Kids squealing in their yards as they dart through sprinklers. The chiming music of an ice cream truck in the distance. Bees buzzing from flower to flower. A beautiful blue butterfly dancing through the air.
Dancing.
My transplant came upon us so suddenly I haven’t even thought about dancing until this moment.
I no longer have to worry about the tube sticking out of my stomach, the area now healed with a raised circle scar all that’s left behind.
My shoulders feel lighter at the idea of getting into the studio again. It’s something I know I’ll have to discuss with my doctor at my next appointment. I’m not sure if a month is enough time for them to think any sort of exercise, especially dance, is okay. Healing is going great, and I feel amazing, but that doesn’t mean my body doesn’t need longer to recover.
I check my phone and find that I’m one block from their house.
My heart starts to beat a little bit faster.
As I grow closer to the house it thunders in my ears like a mighty drum announcing my approach.
What if they’re not happy to see me?
This was a bad idea.
What were you thinking, Willa?
You’re such an idiot.
Like, seriously, THE biggest idiot on the planet.
Turn around. You still have time.
I CAN’T
I can’t.
I can’t.
I CAN’T.
I have to do this.
I stop outside the house and double check that it’s the right one.
A gate out front opens onto a stone pathway that leads up the Spanish-style home with a stucco outside and long branched trees shadowing the front.
A French door on the second floor opens up to a balcony.
It’s a nice home, obviously they have money, because a house like this in Santa Monica costs even more than the home I live in.
I follow the path up to the solid wood front door.
Are you going to do this?
Yes. Yes, I am.
Before I can chicken out I raise my finger to the doorbell and press it. I hear it chime loudly inside the house.
I can barely hear over the whirling of the blood rushing through my veins.
I’ve never done anything like this before. Put myself out there and braced for rejection.
While I desire nothing more than to meet them, I realize they might not want to meet me.nbsp;