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Bree had always loved to dance. From the moment she first saw a ballet performance, she knew it was her passion. The way the dancers glided across the stage, their movements so graceful and controlled, inspired her to become one of them. Lara practiced every day, perfecting her pirouettes and pliés in her small bedroom and then on the streets, dreaming of the day she would perform in front of an audience.
After a long day of school and hanging out with Steph and Cass, Lara had collapsed in the crap apartment. The sky was dark, the streets were empty, and a gentle rain began to fall. Lara loved the rain. It had a magical way of transforming the world around her. The streetlights flickered on, casting a soft glow on the wet pavement. An idea sparked in her mind. Why not dance outside? It was late, but the street would be her stage, and the rain would be her audience.
Bree’s heart raced at the thought. She found a small patch of concrete near an old park fountain, where the water danced in the air. She stood there for a moment, feeling the cool raindrops kiss her skin. Taking a deep breath, she let her passion take over. Music played in her mind, and without hesitation, she began to move.
The rhythm of her feet echoed softly against the sidewalk as she started with a slow tendu. With every movement, she felt more alive, free from the constraints of the closed studio. Her arms arched gracefully above her head, and she leaped into a grand jeté, her body soaring through the night air. The rain fell harder, but all she felt was joy. She spun and leaped, lost in the melody of her own imagination.
The way she danced amidst the rain was enchanting. The clarity of her lines against the blur of the rain, her joyous expression lighting up the night. He wished he could freeze this magical moment in time. On patrol late at night was Red Hood and Robin, they were passing by when they saw her out in the rain. Realising it was Bree, they stopped to watch
Bree, unaware of her audience, continued to dance. She felt the rhythm in her bones, the beauty of the moment filling her with energy. With each beat of the rain, she moved perfectly in beat. At first, it was just soft and gentle, like the way the raindrops kissed the grass. But then, as the rhythm of the rain picked up, so did Bree’s steps. She jumped and spun, letting the rain wash over her, feeling free and alive.
The world blurred into a soft gray and blue as she let the music of the rain lead her. Bree felt like she was dancing on clouds, as if the sky had opened up just for her. The water splattered around her, creating a backdrop of shimmering sparks with each graceful leap.
In the distance the two figures watched the girl in amazement, her confidence shined through and for the first time since they encountered her she was actually showing pure emotion.
With each twirl, Bree became more confident. She didn’t need an audience; the rain was enough. Watching through the boys cameras at the girl was Bruce and Babs, they both watched in pure amazement at the girls change in attitude.
She remembered how much she loved to dance and how free it made her feel. She continued her routine, weaving in and out of the puddles, her feet gliding through the water like a swan on a lake.
Suddenly, she jumped high, caught up in the moment. As she landed, a powerful splash soaked her completely. Laughter erupted from her chest, Bree felt a rush, and the burst of excitement fueled her movements even more. This was the most emotion she had felt in a long time, Bree knew she needed to save money but she was making good wage, so she thought about maybe getting a pair of pointe shoes fitted, because she missed this rush, the thrill of excitement.
Her movements and emotions echoed loudly through the street, Bree felt so free.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Bree sat on her makeshift bed, staring blankly at the wall. The sunlight poured in through her window, but it didn't brighten her mood. She felt heavy, as if a big weight was sitting on her chest. School had become a struggle, and every day felt longer than the last. Her friends seemed to drift away, and even her favorite music didn’t bring her the same joy anymore.
Bree was just a fifteen-year-old girl with big dreams, but lately, those dreams felt distant. She had always loved drawing and dancing, but now the pages of her sketchbook sat untouched. Instead, Bree spent hours scrolling through her phone, that Steph had gifted her, looking at everyone else’s happy lives. They all smiled in pictures, making it look so easy. But Bree felt like she was stuck in a fog, unable to escape.
Her best friends, Cass and Steph, often texted her, asking to hang out. Bree liked Cass and Steph, but every time she thought about going out, her mind filled with doubts. What if they saw how sad she was? What if they asked questions Bree didn’t want to answer? So, Bree would invent excuses. "I have too much homework," or "I’m not feeling well," became her frequent replies.
One chilly afternoon, Bree decided to take a walk to clear her head. On her way to the park, she passed a little café. The warm smell of coffee and baked goods wafted through the air. She peeked inside and saw a group of kids from her school laughing and taking selfies. Bree felt a pang of loneliness. She hurried past them, wishing she could be with them but feeling invisible.
When she reached the park, she plopped down on a bench. It was quiet, and only a few leaves rustled in the wind. Bree pulled out her sketchbook and opened it. The blank pages mocked her. She wanted to draw something beautiful, but she couldn’t find the words or images in her mind. Frustrated, she closed the book and buried her face in her hands.
In that moment, Bree remembered something she had read online about self-harm. Some people said it made them feel better, a way to cope when the sadness became too much to handle. Bree had never seriously considered it, but now, the thought lingered in her mind. She didn’t want to feel sad anymore; she wanted a way to release that heavy feeling inside.
As days passed, Bree found herself feeling more and more trapped. One night, while she lay in bed, the urge became too strong. She reached for her penknife that she used for art. Just a little pain, she thought. Just enough to feel something different. She pressed the blade against her arm, and for a moment, it distracted her from the numbing sadness.
The relief was temporary, but it was there. Bree suddenly found herself in a cycle—feeling overwhelmed, reaching for the knife, then feeling guilt and shame afterward. She knew it wasn’t right, yet somehow, it felt like the only way to cope. Each time she spiraled deeper, the little bit of light inside her flickered.
One day at school, during lunch, Cass noticed Bree’s bandage on her arm. Bree shrank back in her seat, afraid of the questions that would come. But Cass simply lifted an eyebrow and gave her a concerned look, as she signed “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been looking a little down lately. ”
Bree hesitated. The words nearly spilled out, but fear held them back. Instead, she forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little scratched up. ” Cass frowned, but Bree could see she didn’t believe her.
The rest of the lunch was quiet, but Bree felt the heaviness in the air. It was hard to keep pretending everything was fine when inside, she felt lost. That evening, Bree sat in her room and looked at her phone. A notification from Cass popped up. It was a simple message: “Just wanted you to know I’m here for you, okay? ”
Bree refused too believe someone could care that much it was physically impossible, she was a freak and Cass was a smart, pretty girl who could never accept Bree.