Last Days and Last Gifts

As the curtains opened, the crowd cheered. They cheered even louder when they saw that it was me behind the curtain. Dressed in my sleeveless black dance out fit with the flowing skirt, black rhinestone headband with the silver rhinestone flower, and black ballet shoes, I truly felt beautiful and ready to dance. Before I knew what was happen-ing, the message that I had recorded to the girls began to play. "Marty, Shelby, Gretchen and Eliza, words cannot describe how much I have enjoyed dancing with you during these past two years. Congratulations on your high school grad-uation, and may God bless you with the many oppor-tunities that life has to offer. Love always and God Bless, Katie Russell." Ten seconds later, Amy Grant's "Oh How The Years Go By" began to play.