585. Cadence

In a poorly lit and heated basement Cadence trains hard for her big break an opportunity that can change her life and a chance to escape her abusive parents Her pink catsuit is soaked with tears and sweat barely covering the fresh bruises the sequins hardly show up in the dim light in the stage of her head they glow brightly She brushes her long dark hair away from a day old black eye and concentrates on the music in her mind determined to earn the respect of her peers and the possibility of freedom Attempting to leap as high as possible trying to stay off the ground on which her mother walks twirling as fast and tight as she can as if she can turn back time to her early childhood She can hear her drunken parents arguing again their raised voices can be heard through the ceiling she quickly gets in to bed trembling with fear dreading what may happen if the cellar door should creak open tonight