When I first entered this college in the United States, I still took a dance course for one extra credit, although I had taken 12 credits a semester. Follow the dance, Professor Philip's class, and jump twice a week easily. From Jazz to Modern dance to Ballet. Among them, I have been happy for two semesters of modern dance.

During the four semesters of dance lessons, my classmates have always had Kristy and Chelsy, a couple of mother and daughter.

Kristy Leigh is the mother. Chelsy Leigh is the daughter. At first sight of the first class, I was amazed by Chelsy. Such a classical and beautiful girl seems to come out of the 18th-century oil painting. She's a little bit like a Russian beauty. Big blue eyes, full forehead, slender body, looks like it is too long to add one and too short to reduce. A sculpture-like proportion and shape, even if standing quietly, is also an unspeakable charm, let you can't help but want to see more. It was later learned that her family was an immigrant from Eastern Europe.

The professor is also very fond of Chelsy. All the problematic moves are the Chelsy lead. Flowing Clouds and flowing water are generally clean and tidy. It turned out that Chelsy had already graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, majoring in English. But also proficient in German, Japanese, Spanish and Korean. And all these five languages were learned and completed by her at home school.

In addition to college, from kindergarten to high school, Chelsy was educated at home by her mother, Kristy, until she entered university. It is hard to imagine in China. In addition to language talent, her favorite is dance. To maintain her dancing ability, she comes to our college every semester to continue to take dance with her mother, Kristy.

I started to notice Kristy.

It seems that everything is in reverse. Kristy's eyes are small. But tall, stout. It's impossible to imagine her as the mother of angelic Chelsy. The temperament of the two is far from each other. Mother and daughter standing together, often let me sigh the invincible youth, the terrible aging, although Chelsy told me that she is not a little girl.

Kristy often slouched in dance class, wearing a halter top, standing in the young airy dancing, not minding the fleshy body. After class, passionate Kristy was always holding us talking. She was so confident and sweet that I gradually forgot her age.

02

Modern dance's final exam was to choose a piece of five-minute music and choreograph it freely. It can be combined freely or solo. I didn't expect that the work of Chelsy and Kristy was a mother-daughter duet. My first reaction was that Kristy was miserable, how old her radiant daughter would reflect her.

The music started, and Kristy was on her knees in the ground for a long time. Chelsy began to dance around her like a light swallow. She skimmed through the jungle, over the mountains, as light and happy as an elf. All of a sudden, Kristy jumped up, head up to the sky and the earth. She was so thrilled that every muscle in her body was dancing and speechless. Then, she stretched out her hands, stepped out of her limbs, toward the boundless fierce relaxation of her limbs, she seemed to be shouting, in sobbing—even struggle. I'm in a deep grip.

Chelsy was still flying, dancing, as pure as snow, as beautiful as spring, as light as the sky. But I was so caught up in Kristy's arms that I couldn't even get out of the air and stare at her. She spoke with intense and graceful body language. She danced wildly and quietly from time to time. Every movement was vibrant and beautiful. I completely forgot her weight, her age, and beautiful Chelsy. Kristy brought me into her unique and beautiful world.

At the end of the song, no one was breathing.

For a long time, no one spoke, immersed in the beautiful music and dance, unwilling to wake up. Until the professor called the next one to move on, I had torn into a river and can not restrain myself. I was alone in the corner of the classroom, silently let tears fall. I did not know the reason, also do not see the result. I felt so sad and happy in my heart.

This dance completely overturned my perception of beauty. Only then did I realize that true beauty and richness can't be seen. It will burst and bloom in the soul at a specific time, regardless of years and appearance.

03

I started to have a new understanding of Kristy. Although we have had communication before, I still feel my superficiality and treat her as an old mother who has nothing to do and dances with her daughter. I later learned that Kristy had a double degree in English and psychology and a minor in philosophy at the University of Michigan. After that, she completed her master's degree in English language and literature from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Kristy is a very talented artist. She loves art and fosters the same love in her daughters, who grow up singing, performing, and dancing. Kristy is curious and likes to communicate with people from different backgrounds, races, and cultures. In dance class, she was the most enthusiastic one to share with me, a foreigner. Every time I finish a beautiful movement, she always liked it in time, so that the quiet dance classroom was full of warmth.

One day, I went to the college theater to buy tickets and watch the show. I accidentally met Chelsy's family, and I saw Kristy's husband, Gary, for the first time. Gary was a tall, quiet man with a small beard. Gary held Kristy's hand tightly and looked at her with a smile and appreciation. The family seemed very warm and loving.

Kristie said she met Gary in her hometown of Flint, Michigan, in a place called "car world.". Kristy, a professional cartoonist at the time, was peddling her paintings for $10 each. Gary bought her work and started their long-life love.

And Kristy's talent in acting and singing has helped her gain some essential roles in the drama world. In the mid-1990s, she auditioned for a community player made "Nunsense" and was elected sister Mary Hubert. An older woman told her that Kristy's work was better than she had seen on Broadway in New York.

In fact, contrary to her cheerful personality, Kristy's life was not easy. She went to Brazil to study art as an exchange student in high school. After returning from Brazil as a teenager, she developed chronic fatigue and suffered from many health problems that have plagued her for years.

In the early 1990s, Kristy discovered mercury poisoning and heavy metal toxicity in her dental filling materials and finally took them out. Despite these health problems, she continued to perform, sing, dance, and explore art happily.

Kristy had been a yoga teacher for more than a decade and had passed the challenging personal trainer ACSM test. She was known as an "energy healer" for her ability to touch any part of the human body and solve problems. She completely cured some people, who declared by their doctor there was no way to solve the stubborn disease.

04

One day in May 2018, when Chelsy came to class, there was no Kristy behind her. I'm strange. After two classes a week, I still did not see Kristy.

I couldn't help but ask about Chelsy to know that Kristy had been found breast cancer and had metastasized to stage four. Doctors said Kristy's survival rate is only two and a half years. My heart was tight, and I prayed silently for Kristy that she would overcome cancer.

The cheerful and enthusiastic Kristy was not frightened by the diagnosis. She tried many alternatives: juices, supplements, diet, and vitamin C injections, which helped her immune system stay strong.

She even went with her husband, Gary, to a clinic in Mexico to look for possible treatments, but cancer mutated and spread despite her hormone blockers.

Last fall, I left Kansas to continue my master's degree. I went in a hurry. I didn't have time to say goodbye to Chelsy and Kristy. But deep in my heart, I've been thinking about Christie in silence.

I always have a strange feeling: Kristy will overcome cancer and return to her favorite dance classroom. Without her, how dull and lifeless the dance class was. Chelsy lost the mirth. Even Professor Philip, who had always been rational and cheerful, began to sulk.

In early December, my classmate Dunan suddenly sent me a message, "Kristy passed away." I was so surprised that I went to Facebook to contact Chelsy. Only then did she know that on December 3, Kristy chose to euthanize on her wedding anniversary and finished her short life at the age of 65.

05

This night, I couldn't sleep. Chelsea told me that 2020 was her mother Kristy's most challenging year. Gary, who retired from general motors on March 1, died of a heart attack on March 29. He died at 67. For 36 years, Kristy lost her love when she needed the most support, but she still fought against cancer. In June, meanwhile, Chelsy lost his grandfather.

For the sake of her daughters, Kristy decided to try radiotherapy. After many rejections, she found a doctor who was willing to treat her and got advice from the Mayo Clinic on drugs she could try. Unfortunately, Kristy's health declined rapidly over time, although she never lost her passion and will to live.

In October, Kristy broke her leg, and she immediately had surgery to repair it, but by this time, cancer had spread to her brain, and she could no longer sit up or get out of bed.

On December 1, Kristy decided to accept hospice care and chose December 2 for euthanasia (the anniversary of Christie and her husband, Gary). It was 8:30 pm on the 2nd when Chelsea learned of Christie's determination. Christie finally died at 2:08 am on December 3 at the age of 65.

Chelsy was confident that their father, Gary, would meet Kristy that night to celebrate their anniversary together in heaven. Gary's last page is still stuck in his garden's picture on Facebook, which says: Kristy's art garden.

Chelsea told me that she had a very close relationship with her mother, including a strong belief in God. She said she always heard that people who loved went to heaven after they died but never saw the evidence. A few hours after Kristy's passing, Chelsea had the testimony she had always wanted.

When she went to bed that night, she felt a soft hug. Then she heard Kristy's gentle voice: "I love you." Shocked and surprised, Chelsea quickly replied: "I love you too, mom. I love you also. After that, Christie left, and Chelsea said she went to sleep more deeply than ever before.

Thinking about what happened the next day, Chelsy realized that she had a miracle. Even if she couldn't see her mother again now, she's happy to know that she's fine.

"I no longer had to believe on faith alone that my mother was alive. She had consciously decided after her death to visit me and give me the priceless gift to know with certainty that everything I'd ever heard was true. Kristy is still alive and free from the disease, just like I'd been praying forever since she was diagnosed. Even though I won't see her or talk to her now, I have the comfort of knowing she is healed and doing OK. I feel so blessed and fortunate to have gotten that experience. It has changed my life, my perspective on death, and strengthened my faith in God even more."

Kristy, I always remember you being warm and free. May you still dance happily in heaven, like wind, frost, and sword. It is also like song, poem, Andante, dancing, and flying. Because Gary, your forever soul mate, is with you. (Lucia Pan)