Nod weakly

I nodded weakly, the heat of his touch burning through the fabric of my costume. "I will," I whispered, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. As we approached the stage, the lights grew brighter and the noise of the crowd grew louder. My heart was racing so fast, I thought it might burst out of my chest.

The emcee announced our turn, and we stepped onto the stage. The audience erupted into cheers and applause as my mother struck a fierce Chun-Li pose, her eyes gleaming with excitement. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. This was it. This was the moment that would either set me free or seal my fate.

The music started, a remix of the iconic Street Fighter theme, and we began our performance. She moved with surprising grace, the costume sheathing her in a newfound confidence. I followed her lead, trying to ignore the way my stepfather's eyes devoured every inch of her exposed skin.

I came up with a easy dance/fight routine that played to my mother's strengths, showcasing her beauty and grace without making her look ridiculous. We moved in sync, our costumes flashing under the strobe lights as we punched and kicked through the air, our movements exaggerated but surprisingly convincing.