Karen’s life was over with two simple words: “You’re pregnant!” The doctor smiled. She cried. Her dream stolen by some awkward boy who fumbled with her bra in the back of his parent’s car. Ten years of dance classes, wasted; the hours of practice every day, wasted; the Sore feet, blisters and ingrown toenails, all for nothing. She was stuck in the trailer park while the scholarship to Juilliard went to another girl.

But Karen wasn’t a defeatist. She knew she could overcome this. Her dream wasn’t lost, only sidelined. After giving birth, she found a job dancing. The audition was hard, but as soon as she stepped on the stage, everything felt right.

Her heart beat in rhythm with the music. Her hair fluttered as she flourished across the stage. She arched her back, and with a flick of her wrist, her top slid down revealing her young breasts. Through the cat calls, she heard the dollar bills hit the edge of the stage. Tonight she would buy diapers. In 6 months, she would have enough for New York and Juilliard.