The Dance

Somewhere in the dark, the music starts to play with a low and steady beat. Slowly, two dancers make their way from the back of the room and walk to the middle of the floor. They dance here nightly and the audience gathers round with anticipation because they’re not sure how it will end tonight– they’re never sure. Slowly, Communication holds out his hand silently waiting for Trust to join him in the center of the floor. When she does, he takes her lightly about the waist and starts to glide in small, smooth circles feeling her relax in his arms but suddenly he trips; nothing sensational; just a small misstep which lasts but a fraction of a second but that’s all it takes. The mood is broken and Trust is not as willing a partner as she was a moment ago. She feels uneasy; she now has questions where there were none before. Was it foolish to let her partner lead her around without knowing if he even knew the steps? Trying not to think about it, she cautiously allows him to start again but this time both dancers are wary.

Neither knows what will happen next and Trust is one step away from retreating into the crowd, letting him take his chance with someone else. Communication feels the tension in her movements and tries even harder to guide her smoothly around the floor. The harder he tries, the more he trips. The more he trips, the more she tenses and on it goes until she attempts to retreat to the safety of the silent audience; once again safe in anonymity.

But tonight, an unexpected change occurs. Trust straightens her shoulders and walks back to the center of the floor firmly placing her hand in Communication’s. Her actions relax him, he knows that there will be no more missteps – the message was clear the moment she offered her hand. Slowly they start to glide across the floor and with each step Trust relaxes a little more. As she relaxes, Communication gathers the courage to let the music determine his moves assured that he will not let her fall. As the music ends the pair slowly leaves,  passing through the parting crowd – knowing that tomorrow the dance begins again.

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