Free The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced by Marissa Honeycutt

asked, irritated.
    “We need to get going if you’re going to the
theater this morning.”
    Anna glanced at her clock. It was
eight-thirty. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
    “You can stay here, Anna. Isaak will
understand if you’re not up for performing.”
    “No, I’m fine,” she snapped. “Just give me a
minute.”
    “Okay.” Jenna looked at her with concern in
her eyes. “I’ll wait for you out in the other room.”
    Anna sighed and stood. She dressed quickly
and went out into the living room.
    “Okay, let’s go,” she said, holding her keys
and dance bag. “I’ll drive.”
    “Don’t you want to eat?” Jenna asked
cautiously.
    “I’m not hungry.”
    The two girls walked down to the garage and
got into Anna’s car. Tears started to fill her eyes.
No
,
she told herself,
I won’t cry
. She was tired of being
weak. Weakness is what got her hurt and she was tired of getting
hurt. She would be strong and not let anyone get to her. If she
didn’t care about anyone then there would be no weakness to
exploit.
    “Where’s Wilhelm?” Jenna asked. “I thought he
would have stayed with you in the apartment last night.”
    “He went home. Kurt’s wife went into labor
and they had to leave.”
    “Oh.”
    Anna drove to the theater garage and parked,
all without speaking.
    “I’ll get my things this afternoon and take
them to your place, if that’s all right,” Jenna said as they walked
across the street to the theater.
    Anna shrugged. “Sure.”
    “Anna, if you don't want me to move in with
you, just say so.”
    She shook her head. “No. Wilhelm thought it
would be a good idea. I should do as he says.”
    “Gee, thanks.”
    Anna didn’t respond. She walked with her jaw
clenched and her chin held high. She would not show weakness. She
would not care; about anyone or anything.
    They walked onto the stage where classes were
held on performance days. Several dancers ran up to Anna, including
Travis and Aaron, to ask how she was doing. She barked that she was
fine and pushed them out of the way to get to her position at the
barre
.
    *****
    Aaron stared in shock after Anna snapped at
him. He’d never seen her so cold and distant. Her eyes were hard
and her jaw was clenched. He and Travis stared at each other as she
brushed past them to get to her place. They’d expected Anna to run
to them for comfort, not glare at them for showing concern.
    “This isn’t good,” Travis said in a quiet
voice.
    “That fucking bastard,” Aaron muttered.
    “Who? Anna?” Travis asked.
    Aaron shook his head. “Devin.”
    Aaron had told Travis what Anna had told him.
Devin was destroying her. He hoped Alex would finish whatever he
felt he needed to soon and return. Something was seriously wrong
with Anna and only Alex would be able to fix it. Of this he was
certain.
    “She wasn’t this cold yesterday when I
called. She was crying.”
    Aaron heard people muttering about her
coldness and wondering why she was here instead of home
grieving.
    “You guys, give her a break,” Aaron said to
the dancers around him. “This isn’t her. This is the most recent in
a series of tragedies in her life. She’s coping the only way she
knows how.”
    “By being a bitch?” Lucy, his dance partner,
asked coldly.
    “She’s not trying to be a bitch. It’s not
like her at all. She’s…hurting. Really bad. I mean, c’mon her
boyfriend just died. Give her a break.”
    Lucy looked over at Anna, who was staring at
the ground and blinking rapidly. Her tears sparkled in the stage
lights. “She’s trying not to cry,” Lucy remarked softly.
    “You have no idea the life she’s had, Lucy.
She’s only twenty. Please,” Aaron implored. “Don’t judge her. Just
be a friend. No matter how she is.”
    He could see Lucy’s eyes watering in sympathy
as she nodded. “Okay.”
    Lucy walked over to Anna and hugged her. Anna
reacted coldly, but Lucy squeezed her hand and spoke gently to
her
    Aaron looked around for Jenna and found