Dreams come true

“Hi Mum!”

Skye slammed the front door, and dropped her bag by the door, making her way towards the kitchen – where she knew Mum would be cooking tea for when Dad got home from work.

Mum turned round and smiled warmly at her as Skye sat herself down at the kitchen table.

“Hi love, how was your day?”

She winked and put a square of chocolate in front of Skye. Skye beamed.

“Alright thanks. What did I do to deserve this?” Skye licked the edge of the square slowly, savouring the sweet musky taste.

Mum sighed.

“You deserve it honey. You do so much for the family… if we were better off, you wouldn’t have so much responsibility on your shoulders.”

She squared her shoulders and looked away.

“You shouldn’t have to work - or look after your brothers and sisters - or do the housework at your young age…. Especially with all of the schoolwork I expect you get.”

Skye sighed inwardly – it was obvious Mum was in one of her guilty moods.

“I’m scared you’re missing out on your childhood.” She whispered this part so quietly that Skye barely heard her.

“Mum… it’s not your fault. And you know I don’t mind, as I long as a can still –“

Skye broke off quickly – she’d almost ruined her secret!

But then she wondered – maybe now was a good time to ask again? In a different way of course… But she really ought to make the most of Mum’s mood and try…

“Mum…” She said slowly.

“There is one thing that would make up for it… one thing that would makes me really happy…” She wheedled carefully.

But Mum turned round, and the words died in her throat at the look on her face.

“Don’t. You know I can’t, Skye. There’s no way - we can barely afford to heat the house in winter, never mind pay for you to –“ Her voice broke and she turned back to the sink.

“But Mum, I can make the money myself –“ Skye pleaded desperately.

“Skye? Don’t.”

Mum’s stony voice evaporated her argument, and for around the fiftieth time that year, Skye gave in.

Later that night, Skye lay in bed and stared at the ceiling, figures wearing tutus dancing through her head.

There was a tentative knock, and the door opened. A small figure tiptoed over to her bed.

“Skye? I had a bad dream.” Poppy whispered, her voice quivering.

“Come on in sweetie.” Skye murmured, and pulled her in bed beside her.

She waited until Poppy’s breathing evened out, and then curled her gently in her arms, and carried her back to bed, tucking her in tenderly.

She kissed the top of her head and closed the door softly, walking back to her room.

She checked the time.

She would have to hurry…

As if answering her question, there came a knock at her window.

She quickly slipped on her gear, and slipped a long jacket on over the top just in case she was seen, before running quickly over to the window and sliding it open.

A glowing face peered out at her from the darkness like a moon.

“Ready?” Darian grinned at her, and with a wide smile on her face. Skye climbed out of her window, and dropped softly onto the grass below.

There were benefits to living in a bungalow.

As they walked, they chatted about anything and everything. Darian told Skye about work, and Skye told Darian about school, about her shift at the coffee shop, and her conversation with her Mother.

“I’m guessing she cut you off again?” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

Skye nodded in confirmation.

“And the old excuse about expenses?” He grimaced.

“Yep.” Skye sighed.

“I just wish I knew the real reason she doesn’t want me to follow my dream and become a ballet dancer. There must be something I’m missing…” She scuffed her feet along the pavement.

They arrived at the door, and Darian held it open for her – forever the gentleman.

They entered the forgotten studio, and like every time she stepped into Darian’s second home, she couldn’t stop a sigh from escaping her lips.

Home.

Like usual, Darian made his way over to the CD player, and set the music playing, whilst Skye did some quick stretches and got into position.

And then they danced.

Skye twirled and leaped and kicked in time with Darian - time seemed to stand still. She felt like a small bird – fluttering and swooping through the air.

She was free.

The music reached the crescendo, and Darian twirled her round, her skirts fluttering around her – and dipped her. The music stopped.

Skye gasped for breath as she looked up into Darian’s eyes in pure ecstasy.

This – this piece of heaven she’d been blessed with each night – this was what made all of the rest worth it.

All the working, and baby-sitting, and cooking, and cleaning – it was all worth it just to have these moments of pure joy.

As they walked back home that night, they didn’t talk, they just walked in companionable silence.

Skye silently hugged Darian goodbye, and turned to her window.

“Skye?”

She stopped and turned back to look at him.

“Happy birthday for tomorrow. See you.”

He flashed a smile and disappeared into the darkness.

Skye tried to grin through her yawn, and climbed back through her window.

“Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you…”

Skye blinked, her eyes heavy, and smiled sleepily at her family.

“Happy birthday dear Skye, Happy Birthday to you!”

They all cheered, and Poppy came and threw herself on Skye, squeezing her affectionately around the middle.

“Thankyou you guys!” Skye beamed brightly round at them, still trying to get rid of the sleepy dust that seemed to be gluing her eyelids together.

Poppy grabbed her arm and pulled her enthusiastically downstairs.

They all filed into the kitchen.

“I made it for you!” Poppy exclaimed, beaming proudly. “Do you like it?”

There, on the counter sat a cupcake with the letter ‘S’ enclosed in a wobbly heart drawn on the watery icing.

Skye blinked back tears, and pulled Poppy into another hug.

“Oh Poppy – I absolutely love it!”

There was a flash out of the corner of her eye, and Skye whipped her head round to see Mum capturing the moment on her camera.

Once Skye had made her wish (the sad look on Mum’s face told Skye she knew exactly what Skye had wished for), and she had cut the cupcake into little segments for everybody to share, Mum bought in the post.

She put a small pile of letters carefully in front of Skye.

There was a thick one that caught Skye’s attention, but as it felt like the most exciting, she placed it carefully to the side to open last.

There was a card with a dog on it from Aunty Marlene, a card with balloons on it from cousin Pete, and a couple from friends of Mum’s that she vaguely remembered meeting.

Every time Skye opened a card, Poppy leaped up and grabbed the card helpfully from Skye – so that she could arrange them all carefully on the mantlepiece.

As she was arranging the last one, Skye’s fingers moved to pick up the thick envelope.

What could this be? She thought curiously.

She slowly ripped the envelope, and found herself looking at a card with some ballet shoes on it. Her heart fluttered.

An envelope fell out of the card onto the table.

She opened the card, wondering who it could be from –

‘Happy Birthday Skye, go follow your dreams.’

She frowned.

It wasn’t signed…

She tentatively opened the envelope, with everybody’s curious eyes pinned on her.

There was a shiny letter folded in half, and she pulled it out.

Unfolding it, she saw the decorative swirls and pictures bordering the notepaper –

who could be writing to her that could afford these types of luxuries?

She skimmed the writing quickly, everyone waiting for her reaction with bated breath – they could sense that something was off.

Her breathing grew shallow, and when she reached the end of the letter, she swallowed and looked up.

Her heart was hammering in her chest.

“Well?” Mum gushed. “Who was it from?”

Skye blinked back tears and looked up at her.

“Someone must have sent a video of me dancing to the Royal Ballet School… and they’ve offered me a full scholarship starting in a month.”

At this, she couldn’t hold it back any longer – tears spilled from her eyes. She couldn’t believe it – was she dreaming?

She knew who had sent the video to the Ballet School – who else knew of her desperate dream to become a ballet dancer, who else had seen her dance and had the opportunity to video her and send it off?

How could she ever thank him?

Through her joyous tears, she saw something poking out of the envelope.

Her head snapped up.

Pinned to a bundle of fifty pound notes was a note reading:

As you have been granted a scholarship, we have also seen it fit that, as you won’t be able to provide for your family any more – they will be given a monthly fund starting from now. We hope to see you, fully equipped, at the School promptly next month.

“Mum!” Skye exclaimed loudly. She looked up excitedly.

Where had Mum gone?

She looked confusedly at Poppy, and was concerned to see Poppy looking distressed and pointing towards Mum's bedroom.

She ran towards Mum’s bedroom, and knocked urgently. There was no answer.

She pushed open the door.

There, Mum sat on her bed. Her head was bowed, and in her hand, she clutched a faded photo album.

“Mum?” Skye said softly.

After a moment, Mum looked up and gestured for Skye to come over.

She silently passed Skye the album, and with a questioning look at Mum, Skye slowly opened the book.

What she saw inside made it all make sense.

“Aunt Molly was a ballet dancer?”

Mum wiped her eyes, and looked at her, sadly.

“My beautiful little sister.”

“She was captivating, she just had this thing about her when she danced that made her capture the stage. But then, one performance, her costume caught fire from one of the stage lights, and they couldn’t save –“ Her voice broke.

Skye’s heart broke, and she leaned over to hug her comfortingly.

After a moment she spoke:

“I can’t watch the same thing happen to you.” She whispered brokenly.

Skye’s eyes filled with tears. They sat there in silent understanding for a moment.

“Mum? There aren’t any unprotected lights anymore – there are no dangers. What happened was horrific, but times have moved on. There are safety precautions – I shouldn’t have to give up my dream – and all of this money that could change our lives – just because of what happened when stages were less safe.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me Mum.” She said softly.

She put the piles of money and the note into Mum’s hand and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

A month later:

She hugged Mum and little Poppy, and everyone else. Trying her best not to brake apart sobbing, she gave them all one last tight hug.

Suitcase in hand, she headed towards the station, her family walking loyally beside her.

There was a shout, and there was Darian running towards her – her Darian.

He scooped her up into his arms.

“I’ll miss you.” He murmured, his breath tickling her ear.

“Me too.” She swallowed.

“Go live your dream.” His golden eyes glistened.

“Thankyou for everything” A tear spilled from the corner of her eye, and he wiped it gently away with his thumb.

“I love you.” She whispered.

“I love you more.” He whispered into her ear, and pushed her towards the train.

When she turned round, he was gone.

But she fancied she could still hear his voice whispering on the breeze: ‘Go live your dream.’

She sat herself down on the velvet seat in the compartment clutching her satin ballet shoes to her chest, and with tears streaming down her face, she waved to her family until they were tiny specks in the distance.

Her future was beckoning.