in the need to fly free, go where the wind took her and soak up as much as she could of what life offered.
Still, there are small moments in a person’s life that ultimately define who we’re meant to be. Challenges we face that take us down one path or lead us to another. Shimmers of greatness that make all the difference in deciding where we’ll end up.
Choice. Life is about choices.
* * *
Which is why I’m uncertain how I made this choice. “I cannot believe you talked me into this, Kaye.” I grumble through clenched teeth as I adjust the fitted hip belt with dangling cold coins around my body. It jangles and tinkles as I tie it in a knot. The bedlah I’m wearing is a stunning teal color, encrusted with gold beading all through the bra-style top. The skirt is made of a gorgeous tulle that matches the top but it flows out in swaths of fabric designed to accentuate the curves and highlight the body to its maximum.
Staring at myself in the mirror, I can see it’s highlighting my half-bare body instead of hiding anything.
Suda Kaye stands next to me, sharing the mirror while putting a platinum-colored headband in her long brown locks. Her outfit is a deep crimson with silver accents. She looks like the perfect version of a belly dancer. Not that I look bad. It’s just not as common to see a blond-haired, blue-eyed dancer in the traditional garments.
“You look amazing. And you’ve been belly dancing since you were a child. This is a corporate event. If you drop a hip roll on the wrong beat, no one is going to notice. I swear. You’re really doing my dance group a solid by filling in tonight.”
I roll my eyes and sigh. If my sister hadn’t given me the sob story of the woman who was supposed to be in this getup tonight, I’d have never agreed. Alas, a child undergoing leukemia treatments tugged on every last one of my heartstrings. The boy’s mother uses the belly dancing crew as her one small getaway from all the trauma she manages taking care of a sick child. Unfortunately, the boy took a bit of a turn for the worse and she couldn’t make this evening’s show, hence me agreeing to substitute.
Our mother was an amazing belly dancer and taught both of us at a very young age how to dance. One of the first presents that I can recall her giving us were the pretty little finger zills known more commonly as cymbals often used in the dance. Suda and I entertained ourselves endlessly playing with those cymbals and dancing all over the reservation where we spent most of our childhood.
“Here, let me help you.” My sister places an ornate gold headband strategically in my hair on the crown of my head. It’s incredibly pretty and I do feel a little like a Turkish princess in the full traditional dress.
Suda Kaye’s eyes light up at the sight of us. She shimmies her hips and the coins vibrate against one another creating a lovely sound that gets my heart pumping and my excitement up. I follow her movements and together we create a beautiful harmony.
Watching us in the mirror, I can see we are two opposites attracting magically. One light, one dark.
My sister jumps up and down and pulls me into her arms for a hug. “Tonight is going to be so much fun! Just like old times.”
I snuggle my girl and swing her body from left to right. “You’re just saying that because your husband is in the audience. You love showing off!”
She pulls away and grins wide. “Ab-so-freakin-lutely. Any chance I get to shimmy and shake all sexified in front of Cam is a good day. He’s been working godawful hours on some new project his foundation invested in,” she pouts. “It’s time to give my man a little relief.”
I chuckle and check my lipstick in the mirror. A glossy sheen of pink suits the outfit and my naturally light brown skin tone and blond hair. My entire abdomen is exposed, which sets a few flutters of nerves skimming down my form. I rest my hands against my belly and breathe.
“Are you nervous?” Suda Kaye frowns.
I bug out my eyes. “When was the last time you saw me in something this revealing? I mean, I’m cool with showing a lot of leg, but not so used to wearing what is essentially a bikini with