The lights twinkle and shine down on my face Framing my movement with grace and poise

Every Leap and Piruette Every Pointed toe but not the struggles the pain or the Heartache

My pain nearly preventing me from gliding turning and leaping across the stage

The hard wooden stage supporting my every move

The thick planks tightly screwed together to hold the weight of me and of the world

I start my routine

My shoes making muted clunky noises as I land my jumps

The shoes on my feet aiding my every movement

The shank digging into my heel and the box in the toe threatening to give out any second

Thrugh the pain I go on

Moving across the stage my body begins to ache

and my heart begins beating faster

The crowd is mesmerized by my Performance

They throw Roses of

Red,

White and

Pink sending them to cascade down in front of me

The music slows too ease to a stop

I curtsey and the crowd erupts in applause

Silently tears begin streaming down my face as they continually applause I cry because they can never know

That I dance to stay alive

I dance because of my messed up body

I dance because not moving

Can lead me to a slow painful death

I fear that someone will know

I fear that they can see my tutu shaking

or see my heart beating much to fast through my leotard or my Labored breathing as I panic in an attempt to catch my breath

But no one can know

Because Ballerinas

Are Perfect