Chapter 25

• Daniel had finally managed to dance an entire sequence, even though his movements were still stiff and far from perfect. But what had changed was the expression on his face. He no longer merely imitated the movements—he had begun to feel the soul behind every curve of his arms and the steps of his feet. He was no longer just a student, but slowly becoming a part of the dance itself.
• “This movement... it feels like asking for permission to stay here, doesn’t it?” he asked one evening, after they repeated the respectful gestures at the start of their night practice.
• “Yes,” Ayu replied softly. “Even to love, in Bali, we must ask for permission first.”