I made it to New York.
It was the dream I never thought would happen. The box that I closed, reopened.
It feels like my wedding day.
I was in a yoga class. Kicking myself because my dance classes were going fast, and I didn’t feel I was engaging. I felt they were going too fast, the classes were too big, I was too depleted.
“Think of a triumph that you did. Think of how far you have come…”

I pictured me, a server at Señor Villas in Wisconsin. A man from New York came to my table.
“I’ve always wanted to go to New York. I think I’m going in October. It feels like it won’t be real.”
“You’ll make it to New York.” He said with a glimmer in his eye. “You’ll make it.”
A few months later, COVID hit.
The world closed. The world changed. Manhattan struggled. Dance school closed.
I went to Joffrey in Florida that summer. I worked for LDC for a year.
The next summer came, and it was time to go. To go pursue my dreams.
Dance school was only accepting vaccinated students.
I drove to Florida.
Mid-drive, I parked my car and flew out to New York. I took a week of classes, right up to the final day they accepted unvaccinated drop-in students.
I made it.
That was my closure.
I didn’t love the city to live, though I had an exhilarating time running around the city.
I felt peace.
I closed the box. I went to dance school.
Then I went to Florida. Had a rough year or two. Stopped dancing. Got a job that sucked my soul. Lost all my money. Had a relationship that turned potentially abusive. Shattered dreams. Things just didn’t pan out.
Dance school was my out.
I kept checking the website. They still only accepted vaccinated program students.
Boyfriend broke up, and I mustered a ray of courage.
I emailed them.
“Actually, we lifted the requirement.”
And I took a shot.
I packed up my whole apartment.
Left a relationship.
Drove across the country (thanks Dad.)
Broke my heart and flew to New York.
Man at my waitress table –
I made it to New York.