With every performance, her nervousness faded, until it was only a low buzz in the back of her mind as she stepped on stage that night. By the final curtain call, she was awash with adrenaline, a kind of brittle euphoria that only seemed to catch hold of her on stage.

Heart still lodged in the back of her throat, she was practically glowing, petite and exhausted in her more masculine leotard. Her hair was pinned into a severe bun at the nape of her neck, her makeup designed to sharpen her jaw and roughen her feminine features, but the smile she gave to Lily, bright and completely unguarded, was all Nina.

"Amazing. I feel amazing."