"You were wonderful!" Mom smothers me when I meet with everyone in the lobby after the performance.
Dad kisses my cheek and hands me an enormous bouquet. "I"m very proud of you, pumpkin."
"I was afraid I was doomed!" We were sensational. As a studio. As pirates. My solo was fantastic. I"m chasing Dance instead of it dogging me.
"I"d been proud of you, regardless." Dad"s eyes crinkle. "Takes moxie to get back out there, and you did."
There’s squealing, and Xiang bursts in between my parents, hugging me so hard I stagger backward. She strikes a pose and takes our picture with her phone.
The girls encircle me in a warm wave of laughter and hugs.
Matt, Will, and Seth step in, congratulating me.
"Thank you." My cheeks heat as I maintain a death grip on my flowers. I need to do better
