I could still feel the music in my body even after the rehearsal ended.
My legs were trembling slightly as I stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room, wiping the sweat from my neck with a small towel. The studio smelled like rosin, wood, and the faint scent of the old heaters. I had been dancing for almost four hours straight, and my muscles were burning in that deep, satisfying way that only came after pushing myself to the limit. My leotard was damp against my skin, and strands of hair had escaped from my bun, sticking to the sides of my face.
Today had been one of the better days. The new contemporary piece we were preparing was finally starting to come together. Even the artistic director, who rarely gave compliments, had stopped the music twice just to watch me move. For a few hours, I had forgotten about everything else, the pressure at home, the disappointment that had been growing between me and Leo, and the constant ache of not being able to give him the one thing he wanted most.
I changed into a pair of soft black leggings and an oversized grey sweater, then slipped on my sneakers. My body felt heavy but alive. I grabbed my bag and was about to leave when the door to the dressing area opened.
Sophia walked in.
She looked expensive, as she always did. Her long dark hair was pulled into a sleek low bun, and she wore a tailored beige coat that probably cost more than most people’s monthly rent. She smiled when she saw me, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Elena,” she said, her voice smooth and calm. “I thought I might find you here.”
I straightened up, forcing a polite expression onto my face. “Sophia. Hi. I didn’t know you were coming by the studio.”
She stepped further inside, her heels clicking softly against the wooden floor. Her eyes moved over me slowly, taking in my tired posture and the way I was still catching my breath.
“You look exhausted,” she said gently. “All this dancing… it must take so much out of you.”
“I’m okay,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “Just the usual soreness after a long rehearsal.”
Sophia tilted her head slightly, studying me. “You work so hard. Sometimes I worry that you push yourself too much. In this family, we’ve learned that the things we love the most can also be the ones that destroy us in the end.” She paused for a second before adding, “Accidents happen when people don’t know when to stop.”
The words were spoken softly, almost like she was giving me advice. But something about them made my stomach tighten. I couldn’t tell if she was talking about dancing or something else entirely.
I gave her a small, awkward smile. “I’ll be careful.”
She nodded, still watching me. “Good. Take care of yourself, Elena. Really.”
After she left, I stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door. A strange, uneasy feeling lingered in my chest. Sophia had always been polite to me, but there was something cold underneath her words today. I shook my head, trying to brush it off. Maybe I was just tired and reading too much into it.
I picked up my bag and walked out of the studio into the cool evening air.
The drive home was quiet at first. I had the windows down, letting the wind blow through my hair as I crossed the bridge. My body was beginning to relax, and I was already thinking about taking a long hot shower when I got home. Leo had texted earlier saying he would be home tonight, and even though things between us had been tense lately, I still looked forward to seeing him.
My phone rang through the car speakers just as I merged onto the main road. Leo’s name appeared on the screen.
I answered it, a small smile forming on my lips.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey, baby,” his deep voice came through clearly. “How was rehearsal?”
“It was actually really good,” I told him, my voice softening. “The director was happy with the new piece today. I think it’s finally coming together.”
“That’s great,” he said, and I could hear the warmth in his tone. “I’m proud of you. You’ve been working your ass off lately.”
His words made something in my chest loosen a little. Even with everything that had been going wrong between us, he still knew how much dancing meant to me.
“I’m on my way home now,” I said, glancing at the time on the dashboard. “Should be there in about twenty minutes. Do you want me to pick up something to eat on the way, or—”
I never got to finish the sentence.
Out of nowhere, a black SUV came speeding through the red light from the left side of the intersection. I barely had time to register what was happening. My foot slammed on the brake, but it was already too late.
The impact was brutal.
The sound of metal crunching and glass shattering filled my ears as my car was violently thrown sideways. My body jerked hard against the seatbelt, and then the dashboard collapsed forward, crushing into my legs. An overwhelming and sharp pain exploded through me.I screamed as the car spun out of control before finally slamming into something and coming to a violent stop.
“Elena!” Leo’s voice roared through the speakers, filled with panic. “Elena! What the fuck just happened?! Talk to me!”
My car was wrecked. Smoke was rising from the engine, and the smell of burning rubber and gasoline filled the air. My legs were pinned under the crushed dashboard. I couldn’t move them. I couldn’t even feel them properly anymore. Warm blood trickled down the side of my face from a deep cut on my forehead, and my hands were shaking uncontrollably.
“Leo…” My voice came out broken and weak. “A car… it hit me. It ran the red light. I can’t move my legs.”
“Stay with me, baby. I’m coming right now. I’m tracking your phone. Don’t close your eyes. Keep talking to me, Elena. Please.”
Tears mixed with the blood on my face as I tried to stay conscious. The pain in my legs was getting worse with every second. I tried to pull them free, but they wouldn’t budge. Everything around me felt like it was spinning.
“I’m scared,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Leo, it hurts so much…”
“I know, baby. I know. Just hold on for me. I’m almost there. Don’t you dare leave me, Elena. Stay awake.”
My vision was starting to fade at the edges. The ringing in my ears was getting louder, and Leo’s voice was beginning to sound distant. I could still hear him shouting my name through the broken speakers, begging me to stay with him, but my body felt like it was shutting down.
I tried to say his name one more time, but the darkness was already pulling me under.
The last thing I heard before everything went black was Leo screaming my name over and over again.
