Alex The Dancing Star

Based on a true story.

Here I am at Motion 41 Dance Studio for what feels like the millionth time. As I’m walking down the main hall, passed all the studios, a beautiful and passionate moving figure caught the corner of my eye. She had her hair up in a tight bun, some baby hairs poking out by her ears, and no makeup on. She moved with swift celerity across the dance floor in a way I’ve always dreamed to move. With outstretched legs and arms reaching for the sky then running into a boundless leap. Chills seeped through my skin as she tumbled to the ground out of eight perfect consecutive turns. She was not just dancing but she was feeling, living, and breathing. She was in the moment. Mixing skill and muscle memory with passion to create artwork out of human expressions. And I thought to myself, “Wow, who is this girl?”

It was Alex Linscott and I had the privilege of running into her again the next week. Only this time we had a class together. And though I was nervous to meet her at first the nervousness quickly subsided. Our goofy personalities clicked after just ten minutes into class. As a matter of fact Ms. Maggie had to seperate us because we were too focused on whipping and dabbing with our legs or doing the stanky leg with our arms.

On recital day you’d find me backstage behind the curtain watching in awe as Alex took the stage. Preparing myself for another breathtaking performance. Then in the dressing room we would laugh about how ridiculous we looked in our jazz costumes, and at the studio we would come up with silly dance moves to someday make famous.

But someday never came.

It was just after another exhausting dance practice that Alex was heading home from the studio with her mom. Probably talking about ways to improve her technique when the most unexpected kind of tragedy swerved into their lane... head on. I imagine Alex Looked up and screamed as her life flashed before her eyes on October 6th, a Wednesday night. I imagine that in that moment Alex was tired. A warm plate of dinner was waiting for her at home, that assignment was due tomorrow, and dance practice again on Thursday. But this was October 6th, a Wednesday. I imagine that Alex was looking forward to sleeping in her bed that night at 9:30pm when a 22 year old drunk smashed into the passenger side. I imagine Alex’s dinner sat on a cold plate when her dad got a phone call from the police. “I’m sorry sir, your daughter was pronounced dead at the scene.” One thing I can’t imagine is the horror that her friends and family faced for months. The hours of sleep stollen by disbelief, countless tears brought up by grief.

Did you make it to your bed last night? Did you wake up this morning? Maybe you were late, or didn’t finish that assignment, but I have good news for you. You’re alive. Treat every day like it’s your last because with your life comes an hourglass. You never know when or what could come along and break it.