The Dancer IV

What’s Missing?

In the fourth book of The Dancer series, the Dancer is all alone. I could tell her that the first question to ask yourself when you feel like you’re alone is, “What’s missing?” Yet, she would only reply, “Everyone! Everyone is really missing, it doesn’t just feel like they’re missing. Everyone is gone!” And, then she would Dance. For Dancing was the only thing that hadn’t left her. Dancing was the only thing that wasn’t missing. Dancing might help her forget that she was all alone.

First, her “grandparents” had left. Her “grandmother” the Shaman and her “grandfather” the Director had left. Worse, they had taken the Horse God, Walks-Like-Thunder, with them. She considered Walks-Like-Thunder to be her horse. The really it was her father’s. And, before that, it had been her grandmother’s. And, considering that it was a God, it was probably no one’s.

Then, her parents had left. Then, her “uncles”. She had grown up with all of them always, well almost always, around. They were more than family. They were really the only people she knew. Sure, she had been to town and seen and interacted with people there. But, she didn’t really know them.

The second question to ask is “Why?” The Dancer would answer, “Because they left me.” She knew that they had left to attend to important things. Her parents were probably also going somewhere where they could be alone for a change. But, did they all have to leave? Couldn’t someone have stayed behind with her? They had all gone to other Worlds. The Dancer might have been able to follow them. But, she had never used her magic to do that. And, she didn’t really know where these Worlds were. She might end up on another World and not be able to return. And, if she did happen to end up on a World where some of them had gone, would she be welcomed by them? They hadn’t invited her along.

So, the Dancer didn’t really ask those questions. And, she didn’t really receive any answers. She was sad. She was devastated. She danced, for that was what she always did when nothing made any sense. And, in dancing, she found her answer.

Sometimes, the reason we can’t answer those questions is because the real answer is something that we can’t even dream. And, such was the case for the Dancer.

Read The Dancer IV to follow her story and to learn the answer. In doing so, you might find your own answers. May the Dance be with you.