Some things - once you stop , you can never truly start again . Emma had lost count of how many times she'd fallen , but no matter how hard she tried , she could never spin and leap the way she used to . This time , when her body hit the ground again , a wave of pain crashed over her . She lay there , pressed against the floor , sweat and tears streaming down her face , blurring together until she couldn't tell one from the other . Finally , she let go . Emma , it's impossible . The doctors said so five years ago - after what happened , you'd never dance again . And now , after all this time , your body's stiff as a board . How could you possibly soar again ? Suddenly , she sensed someone outside . She lifted her head and , through the floor - to - ceiling window , saw her grandmother standing beside a man - Sebastian ? Why would Grandma be with him ? Had they seen her like this , sprawled out and broken ? A rush of panic flooded her . " She used to dance , you know . But now she's a cripple . What's the difference between that and being useless ? " " What can you even help with ? You can't go out and socialize . Even serving tea at home - who knows if you'll spill it ? Theo , here's your water ... like this ? No , like this ? Is this right ? " " Theo , Theo , Theo , have some water - whoops , spilled again - Theo , can you pick me up- " Those taunting voices from Theodore's friends echoed in her ears , haunting and relentless . Emma scrambled to the window , half crawling , half dragging herself to yank the curtains closed , then pressed her back against them , covering her mouth to stifle her sobs . " Emmie ? Emmie ? " Grandma's voice called from the hallway . 712 Chapter 46 " No ! Grandma , please - don't come in ! I'm begging you , don't ! " She fought to keep the tremor out of her voice , but the tears came anyway , unstoppable as a flood . She couldn't - wouldn't - let Grandma see her broken like this . And she definitely couldn't let a stranger witness her shame . But fate never cared for her wishes . The door opened from the outside . Sunlight spilled in , stretching the shadow of the person in the doorway long and thin across the floor . Sebastian . Emma sat on the ground , shaking her head as she backed away , tears streaking her cheeks . " Don't come any closer ! Just go ! Get out ! Please , just go ! " But Sebastian didn't leave . Instead , he strode toward her , stopping right in front of her . He set his phone on the floor , then offered her his hand . " What do you want ? Get out ! " Instinctively , Emma hugged her shoulders , curling into herself , every muscle tensed . Sebastian said nothing . He simply lifted her up - gently , but firmly . At the same moment , his phone began to play music : " Metamorphosis . " Her body remembered , even if her mind doubted . With his support , she found herself moving - limbs stretching , arms and legs gliding through the air like wings . " Metamorphosis " -a pas de deux , the routine that had once won her a prize at school . Her feet weren't the same , but the movements were forever etched in her muscles . She could never forget . With Sebastian holding her , somehow - clumsy and halting as it was - they finished the dance . The steps weren't right , there were mistakes everywhere , but for the first time in five years , she'd made it to the end . When the music faded , Emma stood in the center of the studio , dazed as if in a dream . " Emma , dancing is a state of mind , " Sebastian said , standing in front of her , eyes shining . " If you want to dance , you can fly . " The words rang familiar . 2/3 11:54 Chapter 46 Emma finally remembered . Back when " Metamorphosis " was new , she'd had a partner - a younger student who could never quite get the lifts right , who once dropped her during practice . She'd found him sulking under a tree and told him these very words . 3/3