XX

"It's very nice to meet you...Anne Wheeler."

Anne didn't know what else to do but accept Bec's hand and give it a small shake. She didn't want to be rude but she couldn't deny the fact that she was feeling slightly uncomfortable beneath his rigid, intense stare.

"Ah, I can tell you two are going to get along splendidly!" Barnum exclaimed, completely oblivious to Anne's discomfort.

"Yes sir, I think we will," Bec bit down on his lower lip as his dark eyes trailed across Anne's flushed face.

Pulling her hand away from Bec's, Anne turned back to Barnum and explained hastily, "I - I haven't made my mind up about this yet..."

"Sign-ups end today," Barnum pointed out.

"Don't worry, I'll get back to you before then," Anne dipped her head in acknowledgement. "I - I'm sorry...I - I have to go."

Barnum nodded, an air of disappointment encompassing him. "Oh well. Yes. Okay. Good day, Miss Wheeler."

As Anne tugged her shawl tighter around herself and prepared to leave, Bec, who was standing nearby, stepped forward and placed a light hand on the crook of her elbow. "I'll walk you out," he nodded at Barnum before guiding Anne towards the door.

As they stepped out into the glittering rays of the afternoon sun, Bec cast a backwards glance over his shoulder before looking at Anne. "Mr Barnum's worked hard to come this far," he spoke softly, his eyes boring into her own. "He needs acts for his show. He has some but he needs more. He's getting discouraged. He's like a second father to me. I don't like seeing him down in the dumps so if you could make this situation any better ... for his sake ... please, do so."

Anne narrowed her eyes at the impetuous lad. "My decision will not just impact dear Mr Barnum, it will impact me and my entire family!"

"I know," Bec nodded at her. "So make the right one."

Anne's mouth fell open and she spluttered wordlessly in disbelief as she watched Bec walk away.

How could someone be so good-looking yet so rude?

As she scuttled home, Anne knew that the clock of time was ticking and that she only had a few hours left before she needed to reach an alternative.

She only had two choices.

1. Give up her only chance of becoming a well-known trapeze artist to stay at home, care for her grandmother and keep going to useless gymnastics lessons.

Or.

2. Leave the whole lot behind, the gymnasium, Miss Patterson, her family, and go pursue her dream.

Which of these could she risk taking?

As Anne closed the door of her apartment behind her a few moments later, she was greeted with an angry glare and a disbelieving one from her brother and grandmother.

"I can't believe you, Anne!" W.D exclaimed, throwing his hands up into the air.

"W-what do you mean?" she queried, feigning innocence.

"You went to talk to Barnum about joining his show, didn't you?" he accused. "You never wanted to go and just listen. You wanted to be a part of his performance!"

"Nur über meine Leiche [Over my dead body]!" Grandmother Wheeler cut in.

"You told her, W.D?" Anne cried out in desperation. "She was never supposed to know about my trapeze lessons!"

"Gut, ich weiß es jetzt [Well, I do now]," Grandmother Wheeler shook her head. "Du bist eine Schande. Du kannst uns nicht verlassen [You are a disgrace. You cannot leave us]!"

"It's a foolhardy scam, that's what it is," W.D scoffed. "I didn't believe you were this naive, Anne."

"I'm not!" she exclaimed. "I'm not throwing anything away! But this is my chance, my only chance, of showing the world what I am capable of! Come on, Oma, you must understand!"

Grandmother Wheeler motioned to the door. "Wenn sie ich entscheiden zu gehen, kümmer dich nicht darum zurückzukommen [If you decide to leave, do not bother coming back]."

"Oma [Grandmother]!" Anne pleaded as tears escalated down her cheeks. "Mach das nicht. Bitte [Do not do this. Please]."

"Pack deine Sachen und geh [Pack your things and leave]," Grandmother Wheeler turned her back on her granddaughter, indicating that she should go.

Sobbing quietly under her breath, Anne walked over to the small, weather-worn bag lying by her pallet. She didn't own much but what she did have, she placed, fondly and gently, into the safe folds of the bag.

Heaving a deep, ragged breath, Anne, torn with guilt and sadness, got up and started for the door.

Suddenly, W.D stepped in front of her. "Don't worry about Oma," he stated. "She's just hurt. She'll come around."

Anne pushed her brother out of the way and sneered, "Well, what about me? I'm hurt too, okay? I've trained for this moment my entire life and you know that! So why did you stab me in the back, huh?"

"Oma deserved to know the truth!" he persisted.

"Shut-up, W.D!" Anne shouted. "You're a snobby, self-righteous pig! You're not the one who put all their effort, their money and their hard-work into this! I did! And if this scenario was vice versa, you wouldn't take any of it so why do you think that I will?"

"Anne! Anne!" W.D called out after her as she stalked to the door. "Don't do this. You're going to regret it. Family is more important than your trapeze."

Anne paused before turning back to face him one last time. "It is? If that's the case, why am I being kicked out? Answer me that!"

Not waiting to hear his response, Anne whirled around and stormed out into the alley, flinging the door shut behind her.

Trying to keep her tears in check, Anne shuffled her way down the street. Her head was hanging so low that her dark, shoulder-length curls constantly flicked into her eyes and nose. Snuffling, she passed the back of her hand across her face and set her heart with a new resolve.

Option number one was no longer viable.

She had no choice but to pursue option number two.

Before returning to the museum, Anne headed to the gymnasium, hoping to explain the precarious situation to her mentor, Miss Patterson, and receive some well-needed advice. However, according to the receptionist, she was off for the day and wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

With hunched shoulders and a heavy heart, Anne dragged her feet down the cobblestone trail winding its way towards the museum.

She wanted to live her dream but doing so had cost her greatly.

The lengthening shadows of evening fell across Anne's path as she stepped up to the front door. But she didn't even have time to knock before the polished wood was pushed open from the other side.

Barnum, his eyes blood-shot and red-rimmed and his hair a tangled mess, emerged from the building. Upon spotting Anne, though, he paused and cocked his head questioningly to one side. "I suppose you're here to give me an apology? To say that you can't join us? That you can't be a part of the show?"

Anne shook her head as a small smile played around her lips. Extending her hand towards Barnum, she announced, "No. Nothing of the sort. I'm here to stay, Mr. Barnum. So where can I put my things?"

Gif: Anne as she talks to Barnum.

Question of the update: Would you leave your home and family to follow your biggest dream and why?

XX