A journey in Manhattan - 2

Carefully, he organized and distributed the technical material that was along the stage, and started to put everything in their covers, cases and bags. Other technicians were collecting the backdrop and gazes, and others were dismantling the sets while the last performers were leaving the backstage. There were agitated moments, the end of a long day of work, and everyone were rushing to finish as soon as possible.

He felt proud of himself for being able to meet the technical requirements for the piece as it had been a complicated show. He was thinking he should pass through the studio to check the equipment he was needing for the next job, plus leave a few lights and tripods he was not going to need for the next day. It was really late, but he thought it was better to do it in that moment than wait for the morning as it was a really busy one...

He fit the equipment in the car, said goodbye to the colleagues and head to the studio in Manhattan. He put some music, pull the window down and enjoyed the breeze of the city. He was fulfilled that after those years in NY he was assured of getting jobs in what he liked and enjoyed a wide infrastructure of jobs, contacts and chances related to his field. Plus it was nice to be that busy so he was pleased to not to have time enough to think about her that much. He had to get used that she wasn't going to be in his future anymore. Since she was gone, he used to feel vertigo when looking towards the future with the sudden increase of opportunities and possibilities life could offer.

He arrived to the quiet street and find a close place to park the car. He introduced the key in the lock which turned squeaking slightly, and the door opened. A hint of non ventilation arouse with the dust while he was stepping inside. He suddenly stood in stillness astonished as a young woman was dancing in his studio unaware of his entrance with big headphones holding her hair and her eyes closed. For one moment he was about to stand in front of her and shout her to leave. His eyes quickly checked the stuff and the studio, and saw one of the windows of the street was slightly opened. He observed his stuff was all there and blamed himself for leaving the window opened, 'How stupid was that... Jesus, I left that opened for a 2 weeks!... it seems there are no loses', he thought. And he started to look at her unawareness and a smile draw in his face feeling so lucky there had been no burglar at all.

He was supposing at some point she was going to open her eyes and see him. He observed her dancing, and felt more and more drawn in her movements and the sense of trance and freedom she was transmitting. He felt absolutely abstracted in her movements and performance, like any dancer he saw before. Her breathing was paired with movement and he started to feel more and more aroused by her dynamics, her freedom and the intensity of her movements. He dind't know how much time she had been dancing in his studio, but all of a sudden his mobile started ringing... He rushed to stop it or silenced it, but she opened her eyes and stopped. They stared each other in silence, for an indeterminate time, while her breathing was slowly going back to normal.

-'Who are you?', she cried nervously with a Spaniard accent, he felt very surprised for the question,
-'No, WHO are you? This is MY place, how did ye get in? Don't you know it's illegal to sneak on private property?', he said proudly. And she was quiet for a moment until she rushed to say,
-'I'm sorry, I just saw the window opened and... it was very cold outside... I didn't pretend to stay, I was just dancing, ... oh please, don't shoot me! I leave right now', she looked for her coat, put it on and raised her hands comically with a shy smile. He tried not to laugh at her, as he was trying to keep the seriousness of the moment, even though he found her very funny, and had an attractive beautiful smile.
-'I'm not going to shoot you, ...what do you think that all Americans have guns and behave like in the Wild West?... we had evolved from that...', he joked ironically. And he added, 'Where are you from? Do you live here?'
-'I was born in Spain, but I lived in different places, ... and I live in London, I'm here for a short holiday', she informed him. -'Listen, I rather go, it's very late now... and sorry again', she rushed and head to the door...
-'Wait!', and he stopped her -'Maybe our fate was to meet up... I work for a theater company tomorrow as a technician,... I can get you a ticket to watch the show... if you'd like to'
-'Oh really?' suddenly attracting her interest -'Where about?'
- 'In The Palace Theatre, between West 46th and 47th street...' Here's the info', and he gave her a flyer from his pocket, -'But I need to know your name to tell at the front door...'
-'OK, great, I'll go, Thanks!, ... Oh my name is Lola', she said with a smile looking at the flyer...
-'OK, Lola, nice to meet you, my name is Alan', and they shook hands, smiling, and she left.