"I'd like to point out what they're doing in London. Professional ballet companies are putting it in contracts to attend health seminars. Sometimes they'll even let dancers go if they're not taking care of themselves well enough. They're forcing them into becoming healthy again. I don't know how it's working, but they're working so hard to prevent eating disorders in the image-obsessed ballet world. Every little step helps."
-dwts_ballerina
This oneshot is very close to my heart at the moment, just as an author's note x
Kaycee's hands shook as she sat down in the office of the Royal Ballet's artistic director. She had been promoted to soloist just seven months ago. Was he already demoting her?
"Ms. Rice, I'd like to speak to you about something." Kevin O'Hare spoke, his voice laced with concern.
"Yes, Sir?" Kaycee asked.
"It's about your weight." He started.
Oh no. No. No. No. Kaycee thought. She'd been taking some measures to improve her dancing since being prompted to soloist.
"Kaycee, we feel that you are not healthy enough to perform." Kevin finished his sentence. "We've noticed a significant decline in your weight since your promotion, and we're worried about you."
"Are you demoting me?" Kaycee asked, quietly.
Kevin folded his hands atop his desk. "Kaycee, we are not demoting you. But as an artistic board here at the Royal Ballet, we've collectively decided that you need to be let go until you can return to your healthy performing weight. We can provide you with contacts to any professional help you may--"
"No, thank you, Sir. That will be alright." Kaycee stopped him. "I'll return to my healthy weight. I'm sorry."
"That is alright, Kaycee. We just want our dancers safe and healthy." Kevin nodded. After a moment of silence, Kevin dismissed Kaycee, adding that her leave was beginning in that moment.
~~~~~
It had been three days into Kaycee's leave. She'd forced three, sometimes even four meals down her own throat every single day.
She couldn't handle the fact that she was let go. She thought that what she was doing was helping her performance. But in reality, it was only hurting it.
"Kayc?" Kaycee's fiancee, Sean, walked into their home.
Sean was aware of Kaycee's leave. He was trying his best to motivate her to return to her healthy weight, but in a safe way. He didn't like the thought of her going cold turkey and just starting to eat normally again, but he hoped and prayed that her body would react well to her sudden change in habits.
"Kayc?" Sean called once more. He set his briefcases down in a panic when he got no response. "Darling?" He slowly pushed open their bedroom door.
Kaycee emerged from the bedroom's addon bathroom. Her skin was a ghostly pale, her hands were visibly shaking, and a light layer of sweat covered the back of her neck.
"Have you fallen ill, Love?" Sean asked, quickly untying his tie, throwing it to the side as he quickly approached his fiancee.
He ran his thumb over Kaycee's pale cheek. He could see the pain in her eyes.
"Honey, are you feeling alright to have a talk?" Sean asked gently, wanting to be gentle.
Kaycee shrugged. "I guess."
"Okay..." Sean exhaled, leading Kaycee to sit on their shared bed with him. "Kaycee, what about those health seminars in your contract?"
"I-I went." Kaycee started after a moment of silence. She knew this was coming. "But I never paid attention. I knew they were saying important things, but I thought I was in control."
Sean nodded slowly. He'd wanted to ask her about those seminars since her leave. He thought that maybe they would've gotten through to her.
All he wanted to do is help her.
"I've thrown up three times..." Kaycee started. "I-I don't feel ill until I eat, and--"
"Sweetie," Sean started. "I want you to get better. I am so happy that you want to get better to get back to performing. But I think that you need to take it slower. You can't go cold turkey, as the Americans say." Sean snickered, trying to lighten the mood.
"But I need to get better faster. I need to get back to Royal now." Kaycee almost begged Sean, as if he could do anything.
"I think you need to enlist that help Kevin talked about." Sean suggested.
"No!" Kaycee's eyes widened. "Then he'll think I'm helpless!" Tears welled in her eyes once more.
"Kaycee, you're not helpless." Sean coaxed, kissing his fiancee's forehead. "How can I prove that to you? How can I help you?"
"Just stand by me. Maybe that'll help me get back to Royal faster." Kaycee started.
"Maybe. We can work together, okay?" Sean nodded, and Kaycee nodded as well. "I love you." He gently kissed her lips.
"I love you too."
