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Abirami

Ophelia and Isaias danced across the stage. They were so elegant!

They were so close!

My cheeks burned. Isaias lifted Ophelia so gracefully, and she flew through the air, but I wasn’t transfixed by the flight. I was transfixed by how close they were. There was barely any space between them.

I’d never been that close to a woman before. Did Jade really expect our bodies to get that close? I hardly knew her. Was she really okay with that? Scratch that. Was I okay with that?

Sure, it was just dancing. I’d seen dancers long ago, at the palace, before the fall. But I had never realized…

Was that really okay? Just dancing, right?

Puabi’s golden skin, deep black hair, and blazing orange eyes filled my mind’s eye. I wouldn’t hesitate to dance with her, even if it was improper for a princess and a commoner to touch. I would always defend her. With my life. But would I ever give my life for but a dance, if this was what a dance was.

Snapping fingers cracked in front of my face.

“Are you watching?” asked Jade, the frown reset upon her face.

“Um, yes,” I muttered. “Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing to me,” she scoffed. “It’s your sister we’re doing this for. How well you want it to go is up to you.”

She paced a few steps away, whispering, “No skin off my back if it goes bad.”