Watching the needle tick by

“So what do you think?”, he asked, after all the information he just shared with her. This included; the tour dates, the scheduling, training for her position, and the pay. Everything. It was high demand tour, which revolved around excellence, work ethic, persistence, energy. Showing up as your best self, night after night, and building memories that are unforgettable. But one minute depended on it, the longer you need, the faster the position goes to someone else, who wants it just as bad. She understood, she'd seen his work, and it was the best of the best.

She paused for 2 seconds, out of 60, watching her clock's needle tick by, and then replied. “Well…I don’t know, yet. It’s a lot, I would need to think about it, I need more time, please", came the desperate answer.

56...55..54..53...52

She could feel his breathing across the phone, awaiting for her to make a decisive answer, now. She felt his pressure. He wanted her to come dance on tour with him this coming summer, and he's had his eye on her dance videos for a long time. Watching them evolve, watching her evolve to become great. To become excellent.

Right now, she works as a professional dance teacher, but she’s been making excuses and convincing herself at times she’s not good enough for the job she has. It’s too professional, and her job wants her to be a certain way. She was looking at pictures, from 2 years ago, and how she’s “slimmed” down, 2 waist sizes. Not intentionally mind you, it just happened to be from “dancing a lot” and "moving" a lot.

47...46..45...44..

She’s also looking for a new fresh opportunity. She’s half in and out at her current job. She thought about quitting many times, and the relief she would feel to put in her two weeks and finally try something else, with a supportive partner in her corner. Oh, how she wanted to try bartending, serving…the tips are ridiculous, she thought. But here she is now, in her living room, in her sky rise, overlooking the city and river, still deciding, knowing time is running out.

Here's the benefit of it all, she wouldn’t be teaching or choreographing, she would simply do what she’d always wanted to do, which is, just dance and travel around the world, with an artist she's devotional towards and knows all his songs front to back.

She could tell you which song belongs to a certain album, the era, and what was possibly happening in his life, based on any press he’s done to release his work.

30...29...28..

What does she have to lose? What would she be letting go of? Isn’t she good at letting go, she quietly thought to herself?

She'd always imagined herself touring with a big artist, and now she's on her way to living her dream.

After 29 seconds had finally passed, and all the inner contemplating back and forth simmered down, and a long exhale was released, she finally answered, “I’m in. See you at rehearsals next month!"