[ShaneGum]

The lights of Istanbul are different when you're a dancer. They cling to your skin, decorate your body like diamonds strewn across your form, glistening in the smoke-filled air of the nightclub. Yet, those shimmering lights, as enchanting as they may be, pale in comparison to the fire kindled within you, a fire fed by music, passion, and the heat of bodies swaying around you. Here, in this nocturnal sanctuary, I surrender myself to the rhythm of life, moving in time with the pulsating music, my heartbeat echoing against the walls in a symphony of raw emotion.

As a non-binary dancer, my craft rides on the precipice of intense intimacy and stark loneliness. On stage, I let my veil of ordinary slip away, replaced by the intoxicating essence of my soul. The fluidity of my movements, the rhythm that carries me across the floor, the feverish desire reaching out from the spectator's eyes — all serve as a testament to my strength, my confidence, my resilience. My body, enigmatic and graceful, commands attention under the iridescent kaleidoscope of nightclub lights.

Stepping off the stage always feels like a rude awakening, a sudden plunge from my ethereal realm to the stark reality. Yet, it's in those moments that the most tantalising part of my night begins. I find myself drawn to a sea of faces, each one evoking an intricate blend of longing and apprehension. And then, the one I've been waiting for, Emre, watching me with an intensity that sends electricity prickling up my spine. Our connection transcends the realm of physical attraction, delving into uncharted territories of emotional intimacy. And yet, the tangible tension between us is an undeniable reminder of our shared desires.

Around us, Istanbul continues its nightly dance, its heartbeat coiled with ours in an intimate dance. As Emre's fingers find the small of my back, I can't help but shiver, a wave of yearning washing over me. The complexity of our dynamic, teetering between intimate connection and audacious confidence, keeps me coming back here, night after night. In this world of seductive splendour and raw vulnerability, where artistry weaves its web through the pulse of music, I've found a place of belonging, an emblem of resilience, an exceptional blend of grit and grace. I am the dancer in Istanbul's night, and this is my song of life and love.