The Catwalk

Were her dreams bright enough to inspire both of them?

- LISA ALLEN

Sarah peered through a gap in the stage curtains, her heart beating faster than the iconic eighties tune bursting into the exhibition room.

Rows of excited onlookers flanked both sides of the fashion catwalk, photographers' flash bulbs casting strobe lighting over models as they strutted down the runway showcasing local designers' creations.

As her first model took to the stage in an elegant office outfit, Sarah held her breath. This was it; the moment she'd discover if dreams really could become reality.

Sarah slid the laptop across so that her Oboyfriend, Jack, could view the details on the website. He looked at her, eyebrows hooking into question marks.

"But you're a secretary; they type stuff and organise things."

The corners of Sarah's mouth turned up. "I know what a secretary does. I've been one for ten years. And now I want to try something new."

"But fashion design? Aren't you supposed to be all arty and out-there to do that sort of thing?"

Sarah bit her lip; she'd been hoping for a little more support from Jack over this. Though, to be fair to him, she had kept all the garment designs she'd been scribbling in her sketchbook a secret for months, adding to them only when Jack had gone out with friends, or been occupied on his computer games.