Lefty and I dazzled the crowd with our tricks, leaving the men in awe. They especially loved when Lefty swallowed a flaming sword, juggled 10 balls while playing the harmonica, and rode a tricycle.

Flashback:

Lefty said, "Hey, now that you're 15, you can join us performing in the circus. The audience and manager love you, especially since you've changed your appearance. Just remember, don't let anyone but me and the crew lead you anywhere. Some folks here are... interesting. We need a stage name for you, too."

"A stage name?" I thought to myself. "I'm not sure about that," I replied as I walked over to sit on the bed, running my hand through my blonde, silky hair. Lefty joined me, sitting down beside me.

"How about 'Batz'?" Lefty suggested. I turned to look at Lefty, meeting their gaze. "Batz," I repeated. "Are you serious?" I burst out laughing, but Lefty's expression remained serious. "You're serious?"

"Indeed. Well, I have to go clean up the mess we made in the last show." Lefty looked at the mirror with three lightbulbs framing it, then pulled out a photo and placed it in a frame, adding to their collection. They walked towards the door. "Stay here while I talk to the boss. And remember, you're my son now that you've joined the circus."

I nodded in agreement. As Lefty left the room, I stood up and glanced around, unable to shake the thought of the nickname "Batz." "Batz," I muttered to myself. Walking over to the mini fridge in the corner of the room, I opened it and found a bag of sugar. "Who keeps sugar in the fridge?" I wondered aloud as I took it out. Flashback ends

Ringmaster: "NEXT UP, WE HAVE LEFTY THE CLOWN PERFORMING THEIR FAMOUS ROPE JUMP DANCE!"

"Rope jump? Lefty isn't... unless they've been practicing. I'll watch from here behind the stage until it's my turn."

Lefty slowly makes their way toward the ladder, climbing up. I observe closely, studying their movements and emotions. Finally, Lefty reaches the top, standing above everyone.

"Why do they look so nervous? Why am I asking such a silly question?" I ponder quietly to myself as I step out onto the stage.

"LEFTY!" My voice echoes through the entire venue, catching everyone's attention, including Lefty's. "YOU CAN DO IT, LEFTY! I BELIEVE IN YOU!"

I shout as if I were a cheerleader rooting for the star athletes. Lefty looks down, their expression initially blanks before transforming into a playful smirk. They raise their hand, giving me the signal. Before we know it, Lefty begins their dance, effortlessly jumping onto the rope as though it were a soft, cushioned couch elongated into a bendy, flexible rope.

I smile, admiring Lefty's beauty and incredible talent. Someday, I think to myself, I'll be just like them—the star of the show. I turn around, heading back towards the stage. "Someday, I'll be like Lefty."

The crowd erupts into cheers.

Confetti danced everywhere, but suddenly, screams pierced the air. I snapped my head back to see Lefty falling from the rope. My heart dropped, and before I could think, my body moved. I ran towards a wooden pole, swiftly cutting it with my pocket knife. Gripping the rope tightly, I propelled myself into the air—it felt like I was flying. I caught Lefty just before they hit the ground. We swung left and right, the crowd cheering us on. People stood and screamed in excitement. Suddenly, Lefty's leg hit a wooden pole, ripping their striped yellow and white sock. Carefully, I lowered us to the ground, ensuring Lefty was safe. I sat them up, the crowd now silent with concern.

Our crew rushed over, worried for Lefty. "Go get me a towel, tweezers, and some ice, now!" I commanded. They hurried off and returned with the items. I carefully tended to Lefty's wounds, using tweezers to remove wooden splinters and applying ice to reduce swelling. "Thank you, Batz," Lefty spoke softly. I looked up at Lefty's expression; they were trying to put on a brave face, masking their fear.

"I've seen that look before too many times," I thought to myself. I bandaged Lefty's injuries. "You can't stand; the crew will carry you back to your room. You need rest, especially since you've twisted your ankle badly. It'll take a few days to recover." Lefty and the crew were shocked. "How do you know that?" one crew member asked.

"I've studied some medical basics," I replied calmly. "For now, help me get them back to their room." The crew nodded and carefully carried Lefty away.

The ringmaster approached me. "Thank you for saving our number one star. Uh, what's your name?"

"Sugar," I replied without hesitation.

"Sugar?" the ringmaster repeated, puzzled.

"SugarBatz," I clarified.

Lefty's eyes widened at the name I had chosen, and the crew nodded approvingly. They turned away, and I saw Lefty giving me silent approval.

"EVERYONE, GIVE IT UP FOR SUGARBATZ!" the ringmaster announced enthusiastically.

The crowd cheered, chanting my new stage name:

SUGARBATZ SUGARBATZ SUGARBATZ SUGARBATZ

A warm feeling washed over me, as if someone were holding my hand for the first time, or someone who needed and loved me. But no, this couldn't be real. They hate me—it's all fake.

"Sugar," a faint whisper I heard, looking to the side. Everything seemed to fade into black and white. "Mom. Mom, you're here." I began to run towards the figure, ready to embrace them.

"Hey, kid, what are you talking about? There's nobody there," the ringmaster said gently, pulling me back.

I looked back at the ringmaster and then to where my mom had been. "No, she's here! She's standing right there, the lady in the bluish-white dress with blonde hair! She's right there!"

The ringmaster sighed sympathetically."She's not here, Sugar. Take a break. Make sure Lefty is okay—they're like your family now."

I followed the ringmaster's advice, making my way to Lefty's room, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Had I been gaslit? No, I knew what I saw. Entering Lefty's room, I found them trying to stand but failing. I sat down beside them.

"You scared me. I thought I was going to lose you too," I admitted quietly.

Lefty smiled weakly. "You've grown so much. I'm proud of you. Thank you for saving me."

"Thank you?" I choked back tears. "You could have died out there. The whole circus would have been devastated if they lost their number-one star. I would have been devastated if I lost you. I can't bear to lose anyone else." Tears streamed down my face.

Lefty pulled me into a comforting hug. "Hey, hey, hey. I'm okay. I'm not going anywhere."

I looked up at Lefty, their reassuring smile calming my fears We ended up embracing each other, and before I knew it, Lefty pulled out a camera and snapped a photo of both of us. I tried to grab it away, but they held it up quickly. I stopped and smiled. "I'm going to miss this place," I thought to myself.

"I'll go get us some ice cream, just like the old days when you used to patch me up," I suggested.

Lefty's face went momentarily blank before snapping back into reality, giving me a bright smile.