When Lightning Strikes [COMPLETED]

Chapter 1: A Minor Discovery

Sweat clung to the little dimple at the end of Julie's upturned nose. It dripped down her face, stinging her eyes, wetting her lips and leaving a salty taste on her tongue. Her hair loosened from the tight knot at the nape of her neck, and a few auburn strands plastered the side of her face. She wanted to pull it tight again but couldn't. If she lost her focus now, everything she'd worked so hard for would fall apart.

Julie's muscles were on fire. Her breathing was controlled and timed with the moves, even if she wanted to gulp in a big deep breath.

She wouldn't stop. Months of practice, and in a few more steps, she would nail it.

"Julie, what are you still doing here? Everyone else left hours ago."

Julie ignored Tom's gruff voice. She smiled blankly at the walls and mirrors as they spun by in the last turns. Her cheeks were so used to this expression, it almost hurt not to smile.

She came to a rest on her toes, arms stretched up fully in a perfect circle, middle fingers touching slightly. She extended back as far back as possible without toppling over, letting her left arm flutter out in a graceful line to help her to keep her balance.

The smile slipped slightly as she held the pose. This was the part that hurt. Julie tugged the practiced smile back into place. She wouldn't spoil the show.

She could picture it all clearly. On the stage, the rest of the dancers would spin around her as they finished their own sets and came to a rest. The curtain would come down slowly. It would all happen deliberately, as she held herself, back bent as far as she could without collapsing.

This was the hardest part. Holding absolutely, perfectly, effortlessly still. Her left calf muscle twitched. A muscle in her upper arm twinged.

Just a few more seconds...

She would have to massage it, or the cramp would develop into a spasm. Which meant she would limp home—again. Her smile started to slip.

No thoughts, no pain. My mind is an extension of my body. Quiet.

A warm feeling spread throughout her body, ending in a tingle in her fingers and toes. When this happened, Julie knew she was golden. She could hold any pose now. The weight of her body disappeared. It was exhilarating, as if a million tiny strings were holding her up.

It was like she could fly. Like she could float up into the air and feel no pain.

Her mouth quirked. She could picture Tom's face if she floated up to the ceiling. The kind old janitor would freak out. "Julie, Julie how did you get up there? You got to get down."

She held in a laugh and then gasped. The pain of staying this way came back sharply but faded again.

She was getting better and better at this over the last year. It had to be what the great dancers could do. Mind over matter, and all that. Their bodies trained to perfect condition to withstand poses like this one.

There was one problem. She was always more tired after getting into this groove. Sometimes she had trouble staying awake on her short bus ride home.

Count down time. One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three—

"Girl, you have to stop. I got to get home, or my wife will be all over me. Again. And I don't mean the good way." Tom sighed. "Julie, come on. I waited to sweep and mop this studio last as it is."

"Ten-one thousand!" Julie shouted the last number of the countdown. Then she let her body go limp and collapse to the floor.

"S-sorry." Staying in that pose made her heart work hard. Her chest heaved, and she gasped between words. "Had...to...finish...perfect."