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She watched as her heart shattered
into a million pieces.

Her chocolate brown orbs followed every movement the ballerina did. Every crisp turn, every elegant wave of her arms and every precise pirouette. The way her body molded with Siegfried's, the black Odette was indeed the center of everyone's attention. The way her arms flapped mimicked that of a real swan and her sharp turns had left everyone breathless.

A lone tear dropped on her cheek as she watched herself take the final pose, arms behind her and the audience on their feet—applauding her stellar performance as the Black Swan.

Vivid memories of her receiving her first pair of ballet shoes came in to view. Her first successful pirouette. Her first stage performance. Her first competition. Her first win. The first time she received her letter from Juliard.  Her acceptance letter into the NY Ballet Company. Her last performance...

With all her might, she commanded her legs to move. To help her get off the damned wheelchair once and for all. But they wouldn't cooperate. Her knees buckled and with a loud crash, she fell on the carpeted floor.

Her loud scream echoed within the four corners of the room as she threw the nearest object towards the television. The clip stopped as the screen cracked and her older brother came running towards her.

"Lisa!" he blurted out as soon as he stepped inside her room. "Lis..."

Tears streamed down her face as she screamed.

Why? Why does it have to be her? Out of all the people that night... why her? She worked damn hard all her life without stepping on anyone. She gave everything to her craft. But why her? Why did it have to be her legs?

"Shh..." her brother whispered as he tried to console her. "You'll recover soon enough, Lali. I promise. After a few months of therapy, you'll be able to dance again..."

How she wished it were true.

...

Her trance was cut short when the door to her office suddenly opened. A raven-haired man in a formal black suit walked in with a tablet at hand.

"Secretary Jeon, please see too it that all bo—"

Before she could finish her sentence, she felt something soft on her cheek. Her head tilted up a bit only to be welcomed by a pair of deep coffee brown eyes. His knuckles being the soft something on her cheek.

"It's my job to take care of you," he whispered as he leaned back after wiping the lone tear she didn't take notice of.

She cleared her throat and regained composure.

"I uh—Please notify all board members to be present for today's meeting."

The dashing secretary smiled and gave her a curt bow.

"Yes, Miss Manoban."

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