It was time for dance class, the escape I had been anticipating. The past few weeks weren’t the best and I knew dance would take all that stress and axiety away. Although it was summer break, all I wanted was to be away from the outside world. I wanted to keep everything to myself. Dance helped me express my emotions without being questioned. At that moment, dance seemed like a dream. Upon arrival, the teacher of the day, Stepahnie, told us she choreographed a dance to Hallelujah, by Jeff Buckley.
She had been inspired by Mia Michael’s routine on the previous night’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Since I had watched the episode, I knew the exact song and dance she was talking about. It was a beautiful song and heart-wrenching routine. It had not only brought tears to my eyes, but also to the judges. I couldn’t be more excited to be there and learn a beautiful dance. What I hadn’t thought of is how this dance would affect me. In February, just a few months before, my family and I found out my mom had a brain tumor.
Even though it wasn’t cancerous, it still took a toll on everybody. My mother was, and still is, a caring, hard working person. She always did everything she could to give my brother and I the best life. Knowing that she had to have brain surgery, something that could take her life, was horrifying. That summer, June 15, was her surgery. I remember the day so clearly. I was sitting in a waiting room, hoping everything was going well. It was the longest day for everybody. Seven hours later, she was out of surgery. The surgery went well and her only problem was temporary paralysis.
As bad as that seemed, I was so glad that she would become healthy again. I visited her everyday and even stayed over at the hospital a few nights. Because of all this sadness in my life, I needed an escape. I needed time to myself. I decided to start going to the summer show choir dance classes religiously. They allowed me to forget all the bad in my life for a few hours. It was the only way I could get my frustration out. Hallelujah was the best song for this. The lyrics touched my soul and made me realize that I’m so lucky for everything to be going as well as it could.
Between the clash of emotions and my newfound appreciation for what I had, I couldn’t help but cry. It was the best way to release everything negative in my life. As the days went on, my mom became healthier and healthier. Life seemed to become easier. Now, it has been about two years. She is back to health and it is difficult to tell what she has been through. I’m so lucky to have her in my life and couldn’t be more appreciative. Hallelujah, by Jeff Buckley, will forever remind me of that summer.
