The Invisible Circus by Lindsey Bakken
Author:Lindsey Bakken [Bakken, Lindsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00
Chapter 19
âCatch!â
Eve tosses a ball my way, trying to get me to handle objects and Turn simultaneously. My darkest emotions and coordination must come together to create an eye-catching show. âWe canât just have you stand up there, Turn, and leave,â Titus reminded me.
I drop the ball.
Itâs nearly August. Weeks of training and late-night sessions with Eve toned my skills and body, but the intensity of training made me miss hours of sleep; Iâm on edge and overly reactive.
âSorry,â I say, not meeting her disappointed gaze.
âDonât be so sensitive, Mikey. We canât afford that nonsense.â
âHow can I not be sensitive?â I hiss, low enough that those around us canât hear. âEspecially with everyone watching me all the time.â Eve shoots me daggers. âAnd you looking at me like that.â
She softens. âLike what?â
I pinch my lips together and my jaw hurts from clenching. I force myself to remember all the time and help sheâs given me. To put all of that gratitude into perfecting a simple trick. âOkay. Toss it again.â
She throws it and, finally, Iâm able to Turn the moment the ball touches my hands. She claps, but itâs a tired sound. âThatâs better. Again.â
My jaw comes unclenched and I all but growl, âCan we take a break?â
She spins around, and the motherly figure Iâm fond of has been replaced by the lead star with an edge and little patience. She speaks slowly and lowly, so I donât miss a word. âNo. This is practice, Mikey. You agreed to this.â She makes it sound like a curse.
My shoulders slump and Eve deflates. I sink to the floor and bury my head in my knees. I feel a wave of tears coming on, and Iâm not a big crier, so I know I canât push sleep off any longer.
She falls next to me and says, âItâs in everyoneâs best interests for you to succeed.â
âI know.â
Her eyes blaze brighter. âDo you know?â She sighs. âThe circus isnât in the best financial situation.â
âOkayâ¦â
Eve puts her hands out, laying all the cards on the table. âTitus expects you to save us. So, whatever you have to do, do it.â
My anger rises, never really gone. âYou mean embracing the sad place?â
Eve pauses. Catches her breath. Sheâs struggling to be gentle. âYes, Mikey, thatâs what you signed a contract to do.â
The truth hits me hard today. âMy job is to be sad.â
The more I try to figure out right from wrong, the more my head hurts and the less interested I am in the answer. But I do need to talk to Titus. I find him lurking behind an RV, alone. Shivers run down my spine as I square up in front of him. Heâs shocked to see me, straightening and plastering on a smile.
âDonât bother with that,â I say.
His lip twitches just a bit. âHow can I help you, Michelle?â
I hate when he uses my full name. I accuse, âIs it true that you expect my powers to save the circus?â
âMy dear, you know your powers are an asset to us.
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