She's about to go on stage, her big solo. She's been working her ass off for this for months, endless practices with the girls and alone in the studio after hours. The workouts, the stretching, the drills. She's standing behind the curtain, fluffing out her tutu, flattening her leotard, and making sure her hair is tightly in a bun as her knees begin to shake. She's nervous, it's her first time performing in front of a crowd larger than a few of her friends and her mother, and she has to go out there alone. She's excited to show her skills, she's worked hard and tirelessly for perfection. She's been awaiting her time to shine.

Suddenly, there's a sharp pain in her back. She winces and instinctively puts her hand to it, coming away with blood. Her eyes turn wide as she turns around and comes face to face with a masked stranger, his eyes a deep brown and his dark hair falls near his shoulders. He smiles through his mask, eyes sparkling. She knows him. She spots the knife in his hand right before he plunges it into her stomach. She falls back without a scream, not making a sound as her body collides with the floor. She gasps for air, struggling against the pain. Then she goes quiet, her breathing slowing, then stopping, her hand falling to the floor with unmasked grace. Her attacker backs up, still smiling, and disappears back behind the sea of curtains. 

She gasps alive again, holding her breath in the hopes her attacker would turn and run, his goals being achieved. She struggles toward the stage. Her fingers clawing at the wood, pulling her nails from her fingers in the effort, but coming away with nothing. Her legs were kicking uselessly like a fish out of water as she inches further and further out towards the stage lights that beckoned. It called to her, begged her to make it. Her debut. Knowing she would never make it, she dabs her finger in her own blood which flowed like a stream from her core and begins writing. She doesn't complete her whole message before she loses all of the energy left in her. She collapses on her side and allows her breath to slow, finger dragging the ever growing blood away from her as she makes one final effort to reach the stage. She hears her name called from somewhere behind her as the audience waits for her to make her way to the stage. She tries to call out, but her voice fails her. She was tired, so tired. It felt as if she hadn't slept in months. All she would need was a quick nap and then she'd continue. She's perform the dance she'd been working so hard on. Just one nap. She drifts off, the music coming to an end, awaiting her debut on stage, without a final bow.