Every week in Friday Free Web Fiction I post a first draft scene from my work in progress (WIP), or a short story, or an excerpt from one of my books. Today’s offering is from my Prunella Smith WIP, The Lock Smith's Secret. Today's story is a memory Prunella has of her last days as a ballet dancer.  I sat with my back against the studio wall and stared at my defeated shape in the mirrors on the opposite wall. The aching in my back was still there. Still would be so long as I danced, so the physiotherapists had said. Today the truth of that had finally sunk in. All the strengthening exercises I’d been working on so hard during the last few months had not improved the dull ache that inevitably grew worse throughout a day’s work at the company. A tear or two escaped and trickled down my cheek, I bent forward, ignoring the paid that caused, and unlaced my point shoes, more to hide my misery than speed the process of getting out of here. I didn’t want to leave. Dancing was my life. But … [Read more...]