She spins and she sways to whatever song plays, without a care in the world. And i'm sitting here, wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. It's been a long day and there's still work to do.
Arthur watched as Amelia jumped around trying to grab for the butterfly, exclaiming how pretty it is. He smiled, watching his daughter run around in the backyard. She was 17, but still acted like a child from time to time. Her boyfriend stood nearby, a smile on his face as well. "Come on you commie!" she said teasingly, running towards him, butterfly forgotten.
"The butterfly is gone, da?" he said, his ever presant scarf around his neck, even if it was the middle of May. Suddenly he leaned down and whispered in her ear, causing Amelia to squeal happily and nod like a bobblehead. She gave him a quick peck and ran towards the house, promising to see him at school the next day.
"Daddy!" Amelia said as she burst in the back door. Arthur looked up from his tea, his glasses askew and bills all over the table. "Ivan asked me to prom!" She jumped up and down, her bare feet making a dirty spot on the tiled kitchen floor. Arthur smiled again.
The next few days were spent looking for dresses, or at least, one that won his approval. The whole time, she managed to gush about Ivan saying that 'he's a nice guy and youe'd be impressed.'
She looked at him one day, questions in her eyes. One of Arthur's eyebrows raised. "Daddy, the prom is just one week away. And I need to practice my dancing." Arthur's face flushed red, stuttering over his words. "Please...daddy please?" Arthur got up with a soft smile, getting up from the table.
So he danced with his Cinderella, while she was here in his arms. Because he knows something the Prince never knew. He danced with Cinderella, not wanting to miss not even one song. Because all too soon, the clock will strike midnight. And she'll be gone.
Soon enough, Arthur was seeing her off to prom, still up at one o' clock when she came home. He watched her walk across the stage at graduation, tears in his eyes. He watched as she packed her things to go off to college, a wave the last thing he saw off her for a while.
The house became quiet. Very quiet. The days turned to months the months , her nightly phone calls letting him know she was alright. And then one day...there was ring of his doorbell. Arthur got up, expecting one of his neighbors. Instead, he got his little girl. She was beaming, showing him the ring on her hand. She gushed about her and Ivan's life plans. She soon calmed down, still beaming her bright smile.
She looked at him then, that same look in her eye she had all those years ago. "Dad, the wedding still six months away. But i need to practice my dancing." she said. "Oh please...daddy please?" Arthur smiled, getting up and holding his hand out like the gentlemen he was.
So he danced with his Cinderella, while she was here in his arms. Because he knows something the Prince never knew. He danced with Cinderella, not wanting to miss not even one song. Because all too soon, the clock will strike midnight.
And she'll be gone.
The product of when you listen to Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman on repeat.