Emma watched as Theodore and Cecilia , after only a moment's awkwardness , slipped easily into their new roles . The pair were soon laughing and chatting with their business partners , as if they'd been a team all along . They looked perfect together ... Emma , feeling the sharp ache in her chest intensify , quietly snapped a photo of them . Even as she turned to leave , that buried needle of pain twisted deeper , its sting spreading through her chest until her nose prickled with the threat of tears . " Emma ! " Someone called her name just as she was about to leave the mall . She turned and saw a woman waving enthusiastically from the descending escalator . Her heart skipped . It was her old teacher - her former dance instructor ! " Ms. Brown ! " Emma's face lit up in genuine surprise . Ms. Brown hurried off the escalator and reached for Emma's hands , her own face alight with joy . " I thought it was you ! One shout and here you are . How have you been ? It's been , what , five years ? " Emma's happiness faded , replaced by a pang of guilt . Five years . In that time , her life had unraveled . She hardly felt worthy to stand before her teacher now . " Are you busy ? If not , let's find a place for afternoon tea . " Ms. Brown was already guiding her gently by the hand . She wasn't busy . Once , she might have let insecurity keep her hiding from everyone connected to the dance world . She'd have made an excuse and run . But recently , after opening that old album of dance photos on her phone , it was as if the darkness overhead had split , letting in a shaft of light . Suddenly , she found herself yearning for more of that light . She nodded , blinking away tears . " I'd love that , Ms. Brown . " Ms. Brown led her to a cozy tearoom on the first floor , all floral china and soft music - classic English afternoon tea . " Ms. Brown , how are the others ? My classmates ? " Emma asked as they settled in . She'd been out of touch for so long , quitting all her group chats , cutting herself off 1/3 11:48 Chapter 13 from the world she used to belong to . Ms. Brown studied her with a sharp , knowing look . " Do you really want to know ? " Ms. Brown was one of the few who knew the truth . Emma had been lined up for a graduate scholarship , then withdrawn overnight . Her teacher had even made a special trip to Cravenhill to check on her . Emma nodded emphatically . So Ms. Brown shared the news . Five years was enough to change a life . Her old classmates had gone on : some had joined professional dance companies and become principal dancers ; some had gone abroad and already completed their doctorates; others had stayed at the academy to teach and nurture the next generation . Each of them had taken bold steps forward on their chosen paths . Everyone but her ... But today , something felt different . Starting now, she would change too . She'd fight to catch up . Even if she could never dance again , she would find her place in another world . " Ms. Brown , I ... I think I'm ready to show you what I can do ." Her eyes burned with emotion , shame and hope warring inside her . " That's what I want to hear ." Ms. Brown's smile was just as warm as Emma remembered . Leaning in , Emma whispered her big news : she was planning to study abroad . Ms. Brown's face lit up . " That's wonderful ! I knew it ! None of my students are quitters . " She squeezed Emma's hand , voice full of pride . " And it just so happens we're doing a tour in Europe soon - why don't you come along ? It'll be good for you to get a taste of life over there . " " But I ... " Emma hesitated , glancing down . Would her leg hold up ? She could barely walk at a normal pace , let alone dance . She'd even switched to a theory major for grad school . " Nonsense ! You'd have been part of the youth troupe already if it weren't for the accident . This time , you'll come as our assistant - help backstage , with costumes , makeup . We need all hands , and you'll be one of us . " Ms. Brown's tone brooked no argument ; she didn't treat Emma like she was broken . 2/3 11:48 Chapter 13 Emma couldn't help but laugh , a genuine one . It felt so good not to be seen as fragile, to be given a chance to help , to be more than her injury . Ms. Brown's phone buzzed with a message . " It's my husband , " she explained with a smile . " Would you mind if he joins us for tea ? " " Of course not . " Emma returned the smile , though her heart thumped with nerves . After so many years shut away , even meeting a stranger felt daunting . But today , she was willing to take that first step . She had to start somewhere . Chapter Chapter 14