The room sparkled with evening gowns and elegant beauty. Diamonds and rubies lighted the room with unmistakable glamour. The music whispered softly across the floor. At first, he told himself he wasn't coming. But then he found out she would be there. The woman who's beauty couldn't be described with one word. He took a glass of champagne from the tray, and glided across the floor to the bar, where he would await her arrival. So many eligible women who were all very beautiful, but there was only one that he wanted to see. His tuxedo and blue eyes attracted women from all over the room. But he refused. He looked at his watch and still, nothing. Where was she? Why had she made him wait for her presence. He took a sip from his glass. It sparkled on his tongue and glistened on his lips. The ballroom spoke with the rich and famous of the town. Elegance floated among the many women. He waited, for there was only one woman whom he waited to see. Where could she be? Most of all, why had he not seen her until now? He hadn't seen this woman since she told him that she was engaged. The man who she was to be married to, became obsessive and very jealous. He took her away, and that was the last time he saw her. Her beauty lost to him, until this night. But why hadn't she gotten there yet? He waited for her. The room became stuffy to him, so he stepped on to the balcony. The wind blew smoothly across his face, like a woman's gentle hand. Like her breath, as they hold one another. The air was free against his soul. He wanted to see her just one last time before she had to be married. Why? Why did she leave without saying good bye? He stood on the balcony as a man dying for something he treasured more than life, more than his life. He missed her so much it felt like his heart would bleed to death and he'd die from the pain. Time went by, and still she wasn't there. Finally, the clock struck 12:00am, and like a dream she appeared.

There she stood. Beautiful like a rose. Her eyes like sapphires and her hair like the red sun at sun down. Her hair had grown, it was now down her back. She wore a satin black dress that came down to the floor. It dipped down to the bottom of her spine in the back, and skimmed her collarbone in the front. She stood in front of him like a statue. He came close to her, but she backed away from him. He tried again, and still she backed away. He wondered why had she been so cold to him. This time he forcefully jumped in front of her and grabbed her by the arm. Her chest rose up and down with excitement and confusion. She too had missed him. She slowly caressed his face and watched as he closed his eyes enjoying her touch. Then she leaned her forehead to his, nuzzling his nose and increasing his emotions. He opened his eyes to look in hers. In them he saw sadness that he couldn't understand. Her eyes told him so much. She was unhappy, and most of all she very scared. But of what, or of whom? Suddenly, she backed away from him, shaking her head with tears in her eyes, which refused to not fall. He wondered what was going on, then he saw him.

There he stood, Sam Rappaport. Nora walked up to him and gave him a kiss. He took her wrist as if he owned her. He pulled her inside the ballroom, through the crowd and to a corner of the room. Troy was so confused. Why was Nora so afraid of him? He walked inside and searched the room with his eyes. He spotted her. She was being yelled at by Sam. Her eyes were to the grown to afraid to look at him. Troy walked over to them. He was screaming at her about being on the balcony with Troy. Nora never talked back to him, the whole time he screamed in her face, she never talked back to him. Troy was saddened by the scene which played out in front of him. Then he interupted.

T: Excuse me, but I think you need to calm down, before I have to calm you down.

S: Why don't you mind your own business, Troy.

N: Please Troy.

T: Nora you're not fine. But has he done to you, why are you taking this from him?.

N: Troy really I'm fine, please go.

S: You know what, Nora I think its time to go.

N: Sam, please why can't we stay.

S: Are you talking back to me, Nora?

N: No, I was just saying..

Before Nora could finish, Sam grabbed her wrist and threw her against the wall. The music stopped and everyone looked around to see what was going on. Nora fell to the floor, shaken. Troy flew into Sam, and the two men fought. Nora got up and tried to pull them apart. A man from the crowd that was now forming broke them up.

S: Get your hands off me.

T: You know what Sam, you really are a joke. You push Nora around because you know you can't control her.

S: Like I said before mind your own business or you'll be sorry.

T: This is not finished, you lay another hand on her, I'll put you 6 ft under, Rappaport.

S: Yea, well you know what Troy, Nora is now my wife and if I tell her something she's gonna do it.

Sam grabbed Nora by the arm and dragged her out the room. Troy stood there like all the air had been sucked out of him. Nora was married. And now she was prisoner to Sam. He heard music, then laughter. He realized the ball had now resumed itself. He went to the coat counter and picked up his coat. Walking out the ballroom he looked down and saw something shining up at him. It was a diamond earring. Not just any diamond earring, it was Nora's. He put it in his pocket and walked out into the parking lot. Into the cold dark rainy night.