Epilogue
My body was alive with vibrant energy.
I was standing centre stage and kept my muscles warm by flexing my legs. The curtains were still closed, and my heart was beating fast with anticipation, fuelled by positive adrenalin.
It was the opening night of my ballet company’s rendition of Coppélia, and I was playing the principal role of Swanilda.
We were about to start the third and final act and beyond the velvet barrier before me, were all the people I cared about the most. Gabriel, aka the love of my life, my friends, and my foster parents. They had all been so supportive of my career, adding much-needed fuel to my ambition.
Since my audition and acceptance, I rapidly climbed the ranks from the corps de ballet to demi-soloist, to what was now my first principal role with the Royal Ballet. I had made it!
My journey had been a tough one and at times it felt like I was moving one step forward but then two steps back. My success was due to sheer grit and determination and that pool of people who loved me. They blew the wind back into my sails when I thought I couldn’t go on any longer.
Over the last two years, my life had become a mixture of battles with wars I had both won and lost. Being there in Covent Garden on stage, sharing my passion for dance, was most definitely one of the highlights of my life so far.
Another significant aspect of it was sitting in the front row, clearly enjoying my performance. He used to be my boyfriend and now he was my fiancé. The man I would marry and spend the rest of my life with, and I couldn’t wait to see what the future had in store for us.
After Garrett’s death last year, Gabriel had taken over his father’s firm with gusto and had stripped it down and built it back up with a stamp of his own. Disposing of the crumbs of connections with any clients related to organised crime. He had cleaned the business up and it had gone from strength to strength. Gabriel Knight was now on his way to becoming one of the best legal minds in the city and he had gotten there by good, honest hard work.
Gone were the unsavoury links which could have connected us all to possible danger. That day when Kai Kinlan had taken me as leverage to get to Gabriel was buried in the past. However, those three words he said to me later that day would be forever carved into my memory. I love you.
The orchestra started up and I and all the other dancers took our positions. We were all so buzzed up after the first two acts had gone so smoothly.
I felt the vibrations from the music filter up from my feet and into my body as I stood poised in a strong turn-out. My forthcoming steps were ingrained in my memory, and I didn’t have to think about them as they naturally came to me on that first wave of sound.
The curtains lifted and we were off as the spotlight hit my position. My body flowed freely around the stage.
During that part of the ballet, the villages had created a feast to celebrate the wedding of Swanilda and Franz, as Dr Coppélius is vowing his revenge.
The positions were complex, but I found them easy as I chasséd my way through a series of steps. Franz took Swanilda in his arms and placed her into an angel lift as we pas de deux.
The steps were fierce and frantic as we eventually completed the final act.
As the ballet hit its peak and we held our finishing positions, the curtain fell, and applause erupted from the audience.
The whole stage of dancers burst with giddy excitement that the show was well received. And the area was chaotic as we all congratulated each other whilst getting into position for our bows.
My bow was last, and I stood in the wings with Rio, my dance partner who played Franz. He had his hands fondly resting on my shoulders as we saw the curtain lift and our colleagues received praise for their outstanding performances.
As we waited for our marker, we both took to the stage and through the brightness of the lights, I could see it was a full house and the audience were clapping, cheering, and whooping. The noise increased as we as principals walked forward. Rio bowed before motioning to me so I could take my reverence (curtsy). I could hear the cast behind us also clapping their applause.
It was at that moment that I saw them, my friends, my family and Gabriel and my heart flipped in my chest. He pushed to his feet and the whole row followed him. It was almost like one of those crowd waves at a football match as each row pushed to their feet in a standing ovation.
My happy metre shot off the chart as Rio and I glanced at each other before my eyes locked on Gabriels. He looked so proud as he stood there banging his large hands together, dressed so sexily in his dark suit and tie. I loved him so much and I could not wait to see him after the show when we would all go out for a celebratory meal.
As we stood there soaking up the applause, I saw something in my periphery; a little girl, dressed in a ballet dress walked onto stage holding a huge bouquet of red roses. She looked so pretty as she approached me with a confidence she would have no doubt developed from her dance classes. My heart swelled and a smile spread across my face as she handed them up to me. I bent graciously and took them from her with a thank you and the cast surrounded me, even Rio was beaming and clapping.
The card on the top of the roses was signed by Gabriel with congratulations and my three favourite words, I love you x.
After a glance out at the audience who were still applauding, I took a few steps forward to the front of the stage.
Gabriel’s eyes were on mine, and I gently pulled one single red rose from the bouquet and threw it out towards him. He caught it with a smile and those close to him let out a gasp of romantic glee, bringing colour to his cheeks. His mates next to him on the same row, especially Max who was standing next to Amber, would no doubt give him a ribbing for that one later.
As we faded back into our positions for the last bow and a thank you to the orchestra, my eyes clashed with Gabriel’s and the sensual promise in them was clear.
You’ll pay for that one later, kitten.
And after our celebratory meal with our friends and family, when we were back home in our new apartment together, I did.