Chapter 21

Laura's life started to become fulfilling and orderly. Her grades in the Dance Department consistently ranked at the top. In the practice studio, she was still the last figure to leave each night. Within the club, she had grown from a bewildered newcomer into a core member who could hold her own. Gunther intentionally gave her more responsibilities in planning and organization, all of which she completed with meticulous care. The ideas she proposed were both fresh and practical, earning her the unanimous trust and affection of the other club members. The confidence that came from being recognized for her abilities gradually replaced her old sense of worth, which had once depended on the approval of others. Her interactions with Gunther continued to stay within the boundaries of friendship, but something was subtly changing. Between discussions of club affairs, they would naturally talk about recent exhibitions or films. When they ran into each other in the cafeteria, it felt effort