Twenty-nine

3 years later.

Sally runs and jumps on our bed. I laugh watching Corey rub his sleepy eyes.

"Daddy wake up," she says with her little voice, jumping on him.

He picks her up in mid-air and tickles her.

"I love you, daddy."

"I love you too sweetheart."

Sally and Jen are our whole world. Jen's mom comes around a lot. She has a job working as a cashier and has worked hard to get her life together. She has her driving license back and a place to call home. She is a great help with Sally too, as well as Jen. She is a helpful babysitter, and I love her.

My mom is a wonderful grandma, she spoils our girls. Jen is a wonderful dancer. She caught up to the other girl's level. Now she gets all the solo dances.

******

I walk into the kitchen smelling the sweet maple syrup. Corey was making pancakes for the girls. He is the best dad. He always plays with them, and his face is always smiling. I love it. He finished high school, and now he is going to college for welding.

I sit down at the table. Corey brings me a cup of coffee. "Thank you."

He kisses me on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"But I can't believe I agreed to be your dance partner."

I laugh. "You have gotten so good at dancing."

"No he hasn't," Jen says, rolling her eyes.

We both laugh.

This is the first dance recital in 4 years I danced. I can't believe it's been that long.

Corey just mainly lifts me. He does some very basic footwork. I love dancing with him. He said we dance right into love. That he fell more in love with me by dancing together.

"Are you ready for the big day?" I ask Jen.

She nods. "I can't wait."

Jen has matured into a nice young lady. She is a student of the month and has so many friends in school. Corey has said that the dance academy saved her life. All the dancers are her friends in school. She once struggled to make friends.

      *******

My feet walk on the stage. I love the silence before the music starts. I began to flow with the music getting lost. My soul connects with my dance. Getting lost in the world and lost in my dreams.

I look into the audience and see Sally sitting on my mom's lap. She claps her hands happily. I smile. My daughter is watching me dance. This moment is so rewarding.

. I feel Corey's strong arm lifting me in the air. I know he will never drop me, not because he is my boyfriend, but because his soul is connected too.

Once the dance was over, I took a grateful curtsy. The happiness in my heart was indescribable.

I see Corey drop to one knee. My stomach begins to turn Oh my! Is he doing this?

I see him pull out a tiny box. I smile. My heart is going to burst with joy.

"Sadie, I love you. You are my passion, my graceful dance. I want to spend every single day dancing with you, most importantly loving you and our girls. Will you marry me?"

I feel my face wet with tears. Happy tears. I love this man with every fiber in me. He is my dance.

"Corey, I love you, yes. I will marry you."

He stands up and wraps his arms around me, twirling me in a circle. I hear the coward cheer. Lost in my world of joy, I forgot they were there.

He brings his lips to mine, kissing me sweetly.

"I guess we danced right into love," he tells me once our lips pull apart.

"Today and every day."

"Always and forever," he kisses me again.

The end.