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The applause at the concert hall on Broadway and 45th was thunderous as Ashley Johnson took her final bow. She peered out at the crowd, trying to see past the glare of spotlights that were aimed at her. She could make out her best-friends Ann and Sue in the front row. They were clapping crazily, tears rolling down their cheeks. I'm not going to cry she vowed to herself, and smiled at her friends. The emcee walked over and handed her two dozen roses. She thanked him, and with her free hand, waved to the audience. This is it, she told herself. The final curtain call, the last hurrah, the last time I will ever experience this feeling of total and complete fulfillment again. She only had one more project to do one more trip to Orlando for six weeks and then she would be leaving this life, as she knew it. Only six weeks, she thought. I can make it and no one will get in my way. Don Roberts, Ashley's manager and longtime mentor walked quickly towards her dressing room, but stopped short in the doorway. Ashley was standing at the window and she didn't seem to notice him. Tears were coursing down her cheeks. Don thought she was breathtaking. Even in her obvious misery, her emerald green eyes sparkled like gems. She had removed the bun from her jet-black hair and it cascaded down her back almost reaching her waist. She's really lost weight this past year, he thought to himself. But her skin was still like a porcelain doll. No one could find fault with Ashley, but Ashley herself. She was her worst critic, and at 5'10" and 125 lbs., she still found herself too fat, too tall, and not perfect enough. Don's mind went reeling back in time to when he first met Ashley. That was 11 years ago when Ashley was a 16-year-old ballet student at Julliard and he was her ballet instructor. Ashley was a determined and dedicated student, but she seemed to lack the desire that a lot of ballet students had. Her parents perished in a boating accident when Ashley was 18 years old. After their deaths, Ashley, an only child, turned to the only thing in her life that kept her sane - ballet. She became even more determined to become the best ballerina and her desire became an obsession. She worked hard day and night, never complained, and at age 25 became one of the most sought-after ballerinas in North America and Europe. Nut now, two years later, she was retiring. Don understood her reasons. He would miss her, but he knew Ashley had to do this. She had made this decision six years ago and now it was time to put that decision in motion. Don's reverie was interrupted as he spotted Sue and Ann running down the hallway. They flew past him into the dressing room. Both girls enveloped Ashley into a giant bear hug. "You were outstanding," Sue declared. "Brilliant!" Ann gushed. "Aw, come on," Ashley said, wiping her tears away. "I missed a few jumps, my plies were off, my pirouettes..." Don cut her off. "Stop doing that to yourself. Did you see the crowd out there? They loved you! You were perfect and you know it." "I know no such thing," she retorted indignantly. "Doesn't matter," Sue said. "We should go and celebrate!" "I can't. I have to be on a flight to Orlando at 6am tomorrow morning," Ashley reminded them. "Right and remember that we are coming up in a week to see you," Sue reminded her. "I can't wait. I love you guys!"
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