Prologue

Prologue

          Dance, Ballerina, Dance! I swirled around and around into Prince Charming's arms. I dreamt that my own handsome knight would carry me off into the sunset. I twirled faster.

          Thinking of an imaginary world where love was forever, and dreams really came true … not the "I want this" dream, a dream that is impossible to come true. I dreamed of riches and royalty and the princess I might be … Princess Emma DeFransis … I would be the most wonderful princess in the world as well as a prima ballerina. I would have thousands of servants to kneel at my toes and jump when I wanted and clean my room.

          I collapsed, dizzy onto the sagging mattress. Then … oh, then wouldn't life be grand?