Last Dance
Age range 9 to 12
'For years I've watched ballerinas from this room. I want what you want. I wish to join them.'
An injured dancer uses the aid of a dark spirit to regain her title as prima ballerina, but it comes with a cost!
Miriam has trained her whole life to fulfil her dreams and it's finally paid off now that she's the prima ballerina of the Lulli Dance Company, but she's been keeping a secret from them. The years of sprains, fractures, and bruises have been taking their toll, and a catastrophic ankle injury now means one terrible thing: she has to give it all up forever. Distraught beyond consolation, Miriam runs from the studio and discovers a secret room she's never seen before. Inside she finds a pair of gleaming white and gold slippers, and a mysterious voice whispering to her in the dark. If she tries on the slippers, it says, she'll regain the strength to raise en pointe. It speaks the truth! Soon, Miriam is back, but each achievement on her journey back means more negotiation with the spirit who claims it wants just one harmless thing in return...to join the ballerinas and dance, just like her.
Hanna Schroy is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Austin. She has participated in a multitude of self-published anthologies including Girls! Girls! Girls! curated by Alex Perkins and Thicker Than Blood curated by Mengmeng Liu. She is a long-time dance enthusiast and recent amateur gardener. hannaschroy.com
