She exits with grace and style.

It isn't as easy as she makes it look~

leaving behind four years of growing up.

On the final evening she and her friends skated across the empty floors as their laughter bounced against the bare walls.

They sat in the familiar bedroom, legs dangling from the second story screenless bay window with backs to the room now devoid of belongings.

The truck driver commented that is was hard to watch the sweet teenage girls try to find a way to say farewell.

Heart wrenching.

The tears that rolled as we pulled away from "home."

Heart breaking.

***

The final dance is always wrought with emotion.

She pours her heart into her performance.

The movement of her body beautifully exhibits her love of dance.

During her solo the woman behind me whispered in an awe-filled voice to someone next to her,

"She is beautiful."

Sometimes those unknowing, genuine words nurture the soul.

Reminds me to be generous in my compliments.

It is too easy to sit quietly in awe.

Too oft we don't speak the good things.  

The final performance gives us that opportunity.

In our farewells.

In our dance.