As I pace backstage waiting for my name to be called, my stomach fills with butterflies. I feel the pressure weighing on me to win. For my family, my teammates and my teachers. But especially for my dad. He has been gone in the army for 4 years. I wake up every morning and go to sleep every night wondering if he is ok, where he is and if I will ever see him again. That is why my solo is to my dad's favorite song, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I hear my dance teacher telling me to stop dilly dallying and get warmed up. Sometimes it is hard. Having to be the perfect dancer all while trying to keep my grades up and being a exceptional friend and daughter all while struggling with my own problems. This dance is one of the most important dances of my life so it needs to be perfect but so many things could go wrong. My hair could fall out, I could fall out of my turns, my toes might not be pointed or worse I might even forget my dance.
My name is called and I walk out onto the stage scanning the crowd. It is then I see a very special face. One that I have not seen in a long time. My eyes start to fill with tears. I try to hold them back but I can’t.
“Dad,” I say not knowing if words are even coming out of my mouth.
I sprint offstage down the stairs and out into the audience.Out of nowhere he appears and I run into his arms. The feeling of comfort and safety, a feeling I have missed for what seems like eternity.
“I can’t believe you are back,” I say between sobbs.
“I couldn’t miss your first national solo,” he whispers into my ears.
That night was the happiest night that I have had in a long time because my family was finally whole again.