Frozen Steps

‎"Dance with me" he said holding her hand as he turned up the music. Something like an opera blared out of the speaker, the deux arabesque? She couldn't quite put her hand on it. ‎A slight twirl was all it took for Raina to spiral into a frenzy. Everything was a blur as  it hadn't been so long since her accident a year ago and despite trying to come out of her shell, she  couldn't understand what it felt like to live again. ‎It wasn't always like this though,  she was always eager to dance, expressful and always eager to dance, practicing day and night eyeing the championship title. Ballet was her life, it was like a lifeline that tethered her and made her feel joy, but she couldn't feel that joy anymore now because everything changed when that car flipped over, a month before the competition.  ‎ ‎...Flashback... ‎The smell of antiseptic filled Raina's nostrils as the world spun around in a blur. She slowly sat up, her mind racing as she scanned the hospital room and replayed the car crash in her head. The sight of her own body traumatized her as her gaze fell on the various sizes of stitches on her body left her feeling ugly  no one was going to give her a trophy now ‎No one.  ‎"Raina?! Raina?!"  Zayne called to her panicked as a shrill scream of terror filled the air. ‎ ‎Damn it what had he done?  ‎ ‎Immediately, he swept her  into his arms, cradling her frail form like a baby, heading straight to his bed and throwing a blanket over them both. ‎His warm breath danced   across her cold skin as he whispered,  "you're safe Raina. I'm always here."  His gentle voice seemed to  calm her shaking frame, calming her frazzled nerves. ‎His presence was like a shield, a visible barrier  making her feel protected and almost immediately, she  felt the  heavy weight of her anxieties lifting. ‎"I... I'm sorry" she whispered, her voice barely audible even if she didn't know what she was apologizing for. ‎Hey, it's ok" zayne whispered back, brushing his lips across her face. ‎"Just breathe. Feel my heartbeat and breathe. You're safe with me"