When I stepped onto the stage, everyone in the theater clapped and cheered. Every time I step on the stage and feel the light shining on me, I have different moods. Feelings of joy, anxiety, trembling, nervousness... All these emotions make me love this ballet more. Even though my toes are calloused and have been injured many times, it does not discourage me.
"The Ballet of Remembrance by the ballerina Esther Joan."
I perform my ballet with the most focused mind ever, my mind relaxes and listens to the melodious melody. If anyone is familiar with classical ballet, it is impossible not to know about my performance. I'm recreating the performance that made my mother's name, Rowan Amber: Duck in the Moonlight.
'The Duck in the Moonlight' is a ballet performance created by my mother herself, everything is a perfect combination of art and reality, leading the viewer to a ballet work. Captivating to every detail. This story is about a duck who always thought she was ugly, so on the night of the full moon it dared to go out and dance. The beauty of the duck was only seen by the moonlight, praised by the moonlight, but she herself did not know it.
This ballet work was like my mother's heart at that time, because she loved Mr. Curtis, she was self-deprecating, then she restrained her passion and freedom.
When everyone saw this work again, everyone was moved to the point of silence. This ballet work was adapted and created by me based on my previous life when I was with my mother. I remember every word of her advice, every loving look in her eyes and that sweet smile. All of which I put into the work that my mother loved the most.
Through it, I want to evoke a person's memory of a ballet genius they once admired. I want my mother to live forever in the memory of mankind.
When the performance ended, the auditorium was silent for a few seconds, then someone clapped, and then everyone cheered in turn. Some people even cried, reporters and journalists even forgot to record.
"Is Esther Joan a descendant of the legendary ballerina Rowan Amber? I miss Rowan so much, I even cried watching this performance and remembering how she looked."
"The performance was adapted in a different style, but I have to admit Esther Joan was brave enough to dare to recreate this ballet performance. Esther Joan really did a good job."
"I couldn't believe what I just saw. Such a beautiful work of a dream. Esther Joan was definitely the best tonight."
The best compliments go to me. Everyone seems to have gone through a lot of emotions, from being surprised to emotional and finally bursting with joy. Even the judges couldn't hold back their tears. They were all close friends, companions and lovers of Rowan Amber.
If there is a contestant who performs Rowan Amber's performance but performs badly or loses the original value of the work, it will certainly be criticized and scolded by everyone. Because Rowan Amber is the symbol of the ballet world. However, Esther Joan dared to do and even did everything perfectly beyond everyone's imagination, which made the judges so exclaim.
"Esther Joan. I only have one question for you." The one who spoke was the elderly female judge, Silia. She and Rowan Amber used to be very close friends until Rowan Amber suddenly retired for no reason. "People may not know why Rowan Amber disappeared, but I do. Because she was pregnant at the time."
Silia revealed the truth that no one had known before. Silia knew that Rowan was pregnant at that time, so she gave up ballet. She also knew that Rowan wanted to give her daughter a father, so she had to sacrifice her career like that. After all, not long ago, someone discovered Rowan Amber's grave in her hometown, then Silia knew her best friend was dead and Rowan's daughter did not know where.
"So I only have one question, are you Rowan's daughter?"
After Silia asked, her trembling hand couldn't hold the mic firmly. She trusts her gut feeling and intuition. The dress that Esther was wearing, the old dancing shoes and the same hairstyle as Rowan, along with the elegant and natural ballet style that was characteristic of Rowan. All of that makes Silia unable to help but speculate that Esther is Rowan's daughter.
Everyone was shocked to hear that, because if this were true it would be the hottest news of the day. Reporters and journalists had cameras ready to capture this momentous moment.
Edna was curious, too, because she didn't know the truth. So she immediately turned to ask Kaylin when suddenly Kaylin's face was pale and seemed uncomfortable.
"Hey, do you know about this?"
"I don't remember either, but apparently my father mentioned Esther's mother once and said she was a ballet dancer. It's just that I didn't think at the time that the unknown woman was Rowan Amber."
Kaylin thought her appearance today would attract everyone's attention, but she didn't expect Esther to really be the one to get the attention she craved.
Edna watched Kaylin for a moment, then casually said something she didn't know whether to herself or to Kaylin.
"Someone who doesn't need to do anything has attracted so much attention to me, they are lucky. If given the opportunity, I will make them disappear from everyone's sight forever."
"..." Kaylin pursed her lips, her gaze on Esther standing on the stage grew increasingly fierce.
At this time, I was on the stage, of course, I couldn't know the conversation of the other two. I am in deep contemplation, thinking endlessly.
After a long time, as everyone gradually lost patience, I finally spoke slowly.
"Yes. Rowan Amber is my mother. She died of cancer not too long ago. That's why I wanted to bring this ballet performance to everyone to commemorate her."
When Silia heard my affirmation, she burst into tears once again. She kept nodding at me and smiling.
"You look a lot like your mother. That holy beauty is indeed Rowan's daughter."
This shocking news made everyone excited, if it weren't for the competition still going on, they would have rushed up to the stage to talk to me.
After leaving the stage, I sat in a corner of the corridor, silently looking at the picture of my mother, even when someone approached I did not notice.
"Your mother would be proud of you, Esther."
I looked up and saw Dominic already squatting down beside me. This was nothing like what he used to do.
"Have you seen my performance?"
"Of course. I was one of the first to get here and was just waiting to see you. Baby, you're the only one who's wasting my time." Dominic holds my hand and whispers teasing words.
"You feel regret?" I pretended to be angry at him.
"I've never regretted anything for you. Even my body gave you."
I was so embarrassed by his words that I dived towards him and covered his mouth with my hands. Then I looked around to make sure no one was around and overheard our conversation, then I was reassured.
"I'll have to go on stage to wait for the results to be announced in a while. If you're busy, just go back first, you don't have to wait for me."
"No, I want to see you receive the prestigious award you deserve."