Fresh Start

Prologue

The italics suggest a flashback.

Since moving here, I'm always celebrating my birthday alone. I moved to New York City to fulfil my dream and to live my dream at the hardest but best ballet academy. Honestly it was a shock when they accepted me because I would never have thought I would ever hear from them again. I didn't think I was good enough but apparently I am. 

Ballet has been my passion since I was 8 years old. Well... it was Elaine's passion. She always wanted the role as the swan queen in swan lake, we had been talking about it since we were 4 years old. And when she died... it also became my passion. I'm doing this for both of us and I'm gonna work hard to succeed. 

*****

"It was a nice idea to come here today," Chloe spoke to Flynn, her husband and father of their gorgeous twin daughters. She held his hand as they laid on a sun lounger each. "The girls love this place. You've been so busy with your work lately... it's nice to finally spend some time as a family again."

Flynn smiled. "Mhmm, it's beautiful here. Even though it's insanely hot today."

"It really is," she agreed with him. She stood up and looked over at her daughters, Paige was lying across Elaine's stomach, taking in the sun rays. "You know what, I'm gonna get some ice cream for us all. Be right back babe."

"You're an angel, Chloe." Flynn spoke as Chloe kissed him on the cheek and walked off. 

There was a vibration on the table and Flynn looked at his phone and sighed. "Girls this phone call is important. Can I leave you two alone for a few minutes?"

"Duhh." Elaine and Paige both spoke at the same time from their beach towel they were laid on. Flynn let out a laugh. 

"Alright then." He got up from his sun lounger and walked away. 

"Hey Paige - didn't Dad get us a new ball?" Elaine questioned from underneath Paige. 

"Mhmm, why?"

"Well I'm bored. Wanna play?" Elaine asked as they both sat up and looked out at the lake. 

"Sure but there's a little problem..." Paige responded as she noticed the ball floating along the lake.  "We can't swim."

"Ugh, you're a scaredy-cat sometimes. I'm gonna get it." Elaine rolled her eyes and started to climb over the rocks that separated the ground from the water. 

"Elaine I don't know about this... maybe we should wait until -" Paige was cut off by a splash and Elaine was already submerged in the water. 

*****

Paige waited a couple of seconds for Elaine to surface from the water and when she didn't, Paige panicked. "ELAINE?! Elaine come on that's not funny anymore!"

Silence. 

"E... Elaine...?" Paige started to sob, Elaine still hadn't came back to the surface and she didn't know what to do. Neither of them could swim. Before her brain could catch up with her, Paige was running back the way they came. "DAAAD! MUUUM!"

And this day - a big part of me... died too. When my Dad brought Elaine back from the lake and she wasn't moving... I died too. It was all my fault, I won't ever be able to forgive myself, nobody should. I am so sorry, Elaine. So sorry...