First to Dance Read Online Free PDF Page B

month flight here. We have not received news as to whether the war did destroy the Earth or not, but I feel a duty to find out. The people here want to deny that Earth exists, but I say we must keep the truth alive.
 
    I love you, Aaron, my son, and I will write again before I leave you.
    With all my heart,
    Etana
     
    Etana. The girl from the picture. The dancer.
    Ayita closed the book and set it down. She didn't read the next letter.  Her heart felt heavy. Earth was likely destroyed, and not the ideal place she thought it was.  Was there hope anywhere?  Had she risked her reputation and her future for this? For nothing?  What happened on Earth that caused the people to perish? How could such a beautiful place become destroyed by war? Perhaps the other letters had the answer, but for now Ayita did not have the energy to read any further.
    Ayita sighed, but a moment later she realized how much time had passed and she jumped up, leaving the books on the floor in a mess. She climbed out of her crawlspace, replaced the boxes in front of the door, and went back to class. She knew that if she hurried she could still take the second section, if they’d let her.  Surely they would, she thought.  She’d never known anyone to leave class before it was over, except in giving up, but with her spotless reputation, she felt sure they would let her return.
    All eyes were on her when she arrived, just as the second section was starting, and she took her seat.  The instructor also looked at her, but didn’t say anything.  Ayita opened the book to continue reading once the instructor said loud and clear, “Section two begin.”
     
    On her way home a boy approached her.  She saw him every day and knew who he was, but they never spoke to each other.  It was that way with most of her classmates.  Aira was the only peer she ever talked with, and it wasn't uncommon for most to have only one or two friends. Everyone pretty much kept to themselves.
    Acton was quick to find her before she left.  He ran up to her and in front of her, skipping any kind of casual introduction or conversation starter. He was direct and to the point.
    “I noticed you left c lass early today,” he said.
    “ Everyone noticed,” she replied. She rolled her eyes and continued walking. He remained in front of her, facing her, walking backwards as they talked. He was very tall; Ayita felt so small, like a little kid beside him. She felt trapped and uncomfortable. He's too close.
    “I’ve never seen anyone do that before.”
    There came a tightness in her chest. I'm through dealing with confrontations this week. “Here’s another run-through for you, then,” she said.  “This is me leaving.”  She sped up to brush past him and continued her walk home. Please don't follow me. Please don't ask me questions. I don't want to lie to you.
    “No!  I didn’t mean it as a bad thing.”  Acton followed her and put one hand on her shoulder to slow her pace.  “I thought it was awesome,” he said.
    “You did?”  Ayita stopped walking and looked up at his eyes.
    “Yeah, I mean, if I were you, I probably would’ve left, too.”
    She put one hand on her hip. “Why’s that?” she asked.
    “ You always finish after one section,” he said. “You have to be the smartest one in our class, maybe even the smartest one on the planet, so why wouldn’t you deserve a morning off now and then?”
    “I came back during the next section ,” she said. “It wasn’t like I completely skipped out.”
    “Yeah, but it must be nice to know you have that option.  If I skipped the first section, most days I’d be there through the third.”
    “I suppose.”  Ayita sighed.  After years of never saying so much as a friendly hello, suddenly he wanted to be her friend. Her stunt seemed to him an act of minor rebellion, but how would he react if he knew the truth?  He would resist it, and then he would avoid her rather than simply ignore her.  But, not knowing