The Other Side of Tomorrow

Kids squealing in their yards as they dart through sprinklers. The chiming music of an ice cream truck in the distance. Bees buzzing from flower to flower. A beautiful blue butterfly dancing through the air.

Dancing.

My transplant came upon us so suddenly I haven’t even thought about dancing until this moment.

I no longer have to worry about the tube sticking out of my stomach, the area now healed with a raised circle scar all that’s left behind.

My shoulders feel lighter at the idea of getting into the studio again. It’s something I know I’ll have to discuss with my doctor at my next appointment. I’m not sure if a month is enough time for them to think any sort of exercise, especially dance, is okay. Healing is going great, and I feel amazing, but that doesn’t mean my body doesn’t need longer to recover.

I check my phone and find that I’m one block from their house.

My heart starts to beat a little bit faster.

As I grow closer to the house it thunders in my ears like a mighty drum announcing my approach.

What if they’re not happy to see me?

This was a bad idea.

What were you thinking, Willa?

You’re such an idiot.

Like, seriously, THE biggest idiot on the planet.

Turn around. You still have time.

I CAN’T

I can’t.

I can’t.

I CAN’T.

I have to do this.

I stop outside the house and double check that it’s the right one.

A gate out front opens onto a stone pathway that leads up the Spanish-style home with a stucco outside and long branched trees shadowing the front.

A French door on the second floor opens up to a balcony.

It’s a nice home, obviously they have money, because a house like this in Santa Monica costs even more than the home I live in.

I follow the path up to the solid wood front door.

Are you going to do this?

Yes. Yes, I am.

Before I can chicken out I raise my finger to the doorbell and press it. I hear it chime loudly inside the house.

I can barely hear over the whirling of the blood rushing through my veins.

I’ve never done anything like this before. Put myself out there and braced for rejection.

While I desire nothing more than to meet them, I realize they might not want to meet me.nbsp;