I watched her fall into step with the rest of her classmates and my heart soared. My little girl! She was watching her dance teacher move and trying to follow behind her. Others may have seen her movements as clunky and awkward as she tried to keep up with the dance she couldn't remember, but her movements were fluid and perfect as an angel to me. She always was.
I stood up and applauded as the song ended, seeing a wide grin spread across my daughter's face as she saw me. The teacher ushered her and the other kids off stage, but she lingered to wave to me. My cheeky little angel. She could do no wrong.
And then the show was over. The dance instructor came out to thank us all for coming and invite us to linger and have refreshments.
My little darling came running out from backstage with the other kids, attacking me with a big hug. "Did you see me, Daddy? Did you see me?"
I picked her up and swung her around, and she squealed in delight. "Of course I did! You were amazing!"
The set of her face changed and she looked away as I placed her carefully back on the ground. "Was I really?" she asked in a serious voice. She sounded too sad for an angel.
I knelt down and put my hand on her shoulder. "Of course you were. You were perfect. The other girls were flailing about up there and you were shining as bright as a star."
"But I didn't remember all the moves..."
I gave her a hug and pulled her close. "You looked perfect to me. You're my angel, and I am so proud of everything you do."
I broke off the hug and was rewarded with a smile. She looked so beautiful.
I stood up and offered her my hand. "Want to go see what your teacher brought to eat?"
"Yeah!"
She took and hand and pulled me away from the stage, off towards where other kids and parents were lingering. I looked at the other kids and laughed to myself. They could never hold a candle to my little angel.
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