TINY DANCER

TINY DANCER
by Suann Amero

“What is your one wish?” he asked me.  I looked up into the darkest eyes I’d ever seen and I knew that all was lost.   

“My wish?” I asked, growing shy under his piercing gaze. 

“What would make you happy?” he asked. My eyes fell to his lips, turning up into a smile as he watched me.

I looked up to meet his gaze again and smiled back. 

“Lots of things would make me happy.” I felt colour rise to my cheeks at the husky tone in my voice. 

He leaned in then; I could feel his warm breath against my lips.  Was he going to kiss me?

+++

Dancing, dancing, dancing.   

Curse my fool tongue for saying all I wanted to do was dance. 

+++

“I can give you everything you ever dreamed,” he whispered. I realized my eyes had closed in anticipation.  The warmth of his breath, mingling with mine, made me shiver. 

“And what do I give you in return?”

A chuckle rumbled up from his chest.  I could feel the vibration through my fingertips – I couldn’t even remember pressing my hand to his heart. He drew away from me and I was instantly cold, curling my fingers into my palm to quash a shiver.

“Oh, my child,” he smiled down at me as if I was a favourite niece.  How could I have thought he was going to kiss me?  “Your happiness will be reward enough.”

“Dance,” I heard my voice even though I hadn’t meant to speak.  “I want to be a dancer.  All I want to do is dance.”

A flash of light in his eyes; there and then gone again just as quickly.  “That would make you happy?”  he asked, seeming amused. I nodded.

“As you wish, so it shall be,” he said. The formality of his words fell on deaf ears as he pulled me up from my seat and into his arms.  He waltzed me across the floor and released me into a spin.

+++

Around, around, around.

One hand above my head, one curved in at the waist as I whirled about.  Around, turning, spinning – never-ending.

+++

I heard the ratcheting sound of the winding key, amplified within my enclosure, and the floor began to vibrate beneath my feet just before the lid opened and the music started.  A face above me looked down, frowning. 

I knew what was coming but I was just so tired – tired of dancing.  She reached in and flicked her finger against my belly.  My breath whooshed out. I blinked back tears.  I’d have a bruise from that one.

She sighed above me, her breath like a great wind, and I saw her pull back her finger, taking aim again.  Spin, whirl, turn.  I began to dance.

Fiction © Copyright Suann Amero
Image by Randy Rodriguez from Pixabay