With a short running start, she executed a triple handspring before using a nearby trampoline to launch herself into the air. Flipping over, she grabbed onto a hanging ring and used the momentum to push herself into a handstand. After a few moments, the strains of keeping herself up was too much and she dropped back down. Still hanging from the ring, she pushed her body back and forth and then swung onto the high bar. She flipped herself up and retried the handstand. After getting in position, she spread her legs into a split while still upside down. A few strands of hair fell out of her bun and dangled in front of her. Gently, she set her feet down and begun a familiar series of flips and spins on the high bar.

The moon was high in the night sky and reflected the sweat glistening on her skin. She had woken up and been unable to fall back asleep. Since as soon as they arrived they had a performance booked, she decided to put the finishing touches on her performance. As she danced through the air, she wondered how this city would welcome them. Millennia of folklore and urban legends surrounding circuses had lead to some countries outright banning them. Each time they entered a new area, it was a game amongst the members to guess what their reactions would be.

Deciding to take a break from theatrics, she let herself fall. As the hard wooden floor rushed to meet her, she wrapped her left leg around the ribbon beside her, stopping her descent. Making sure her leg was securely hooked, she slowly drifted in the air, enjoying the feeling of pure freedom. Frankly she couldn't understand any of there concerns. Circuses like theirs had been created for the sole purpose of providing entertainment. Taking someone's frown and turning it upside down was their goal, their passion, their drive.

Practically everyone in the troupe had run away from something. Abuse, addiction, poverty, loneliness. They had come from every corner of the world and found solace in this small, traveling circus. Each had been looking for a purpose, a reason to live and they found it in bringing joy and happiness to those who came to watch. They took their pain, gift wrapped it and transformed it into something beautiful for others to enjoy. Scars became battle wounds. Smiles became an addiction. Poverty became meaningless. Loneliness was shared until it no longer stung.

And as she hung there, in the middle of an empty tent waiting to be filled, there was nowhere she'd rather be.

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To be completely honest, I've never been to a circus. But one day, one day. Anyways, I'm not entirely used to writing action scenes so I spliced this one with both action and mental dialogue. Hope it was okay.

QOTC: Do you guys like action based chapters, mental dialogue based or something else entirely?

Thanks for reading!
- FAH

Written: July 16, 2017
Published: July 16, 2017
Last Updated: September 5, 2017