“Straighten the spine. Tuck the tail bone.” I do as I’m told. The key is to refuse his eyes even though they hold my future squarely against them. No matter how deeply one breathes through the pain there is no other option but to endure- to demonstrate my resilience as fictitious as it may be. I have no thoughts- only prayers. I pray that time itself would all but shatter before me so that I might cease my parroting and please him. Maybe slightly incapacitate him with my sheer talent. “Extension! Drop your shoulders” our eyes reconcile and I solidify. My lips part and I know there is no way back.