The Solo He Never Watched

Dimitri seemed to have completely forgotten. A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face, quickly masked by impatience. "I'll sign her up. Do you have to hound me like this?"

"I'll sign her up." He had said that countless times over five years. A stone tossed into a pond at least makes a ripple. His promises simply vanished into thin air.

I rushed into Stella's room and pulled her out from under the covers.

"I'm going to divorce your father. After, we'll go to Paris together, okay?"

Going to Paris was an abstract idea for Stella, but it was our only option. The Hawthorne family's influence in Boston was too pervasive; only in Paris could Stella's talent truly blossom.

All my savings combined were just enough for two one-way tickets.

Seeing my red, swollen eyes, Stella threw herself into my arms and said softly, "Mom, can we give Dad one more chance? If he still doesn't remember by my birthday, we'll leave."

"Alright."

But this was the last chance Stella and I would give him.

The next day, I took Stella to the park to clear our heads. I was a graduate of the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School, but after having a child, I'd been off the stage for too long. No company would even consider me.

With no other choice, I had become a waitress to make ends meet.

"Excuse me, may I use your restroom?"

A woman's voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see Genevieve.

She was dressed glamorously, her words laced with a subtle provocation.

Just then, a man’s arm wrapped around Genevieve’s waist from the side.

"Genevieve, you're not feeling well. What are you doing out here?"

"This street-side stuff is so unsanitary."

The moment our eyes met, Dimitri's face darkened. Genevieve, however, feigned total ignorance.

"Oh, Dimitri, look how cute her little girl is. Practicing out here, it must be so hard on her."

At that moment, the pity in Genevieve's eyes was like a knife twisting in my gut.

"Ah!" I cried out. Distracted for a second, I lost my footing and twisted my ankle.

Seeing me fall, Dimitri frowned and instinctively started toward me.

"Dimitri! My stomach hurts so much!"

A heartbeat later, Genevieve gasped, clutching her stomach. At her cry of pain, Dimitri spun around and swept her into his arms.

Genevieve rested her head on Dimitri's shoulder and gave me a triumphant little smile. She had known who I was all along.