I had rarely danced previous to that moment and I surely could not have known how to keep in step to that completely unearthly music, but we twirled around the room as if I had done so every day of my life. There was no misstep, no faltering movements on my part and surely none on her's. We glided about as if we were one entity and I did not even consider how such miracles were possible. My heart soared and my soul with it, until I too seemed to be floating several inches off the floor.

As we swept past the place my grandmother was seated, I turned to look over at her and her smile filled me with such love and such warm happiness, I knew my mourning for her was no longer necessary. She was now truly at peace and she only wanted the same thing for me. I smiled back at her, without tears this time and she knew that I understood her feelings and would, from here on, be all right.

I continued to dance, all trace of fatigue gone from me and returned my attention to my partner. She seemed so fragile, so light in my arms that I dared not breath too hard, for fear I might inadvertently blow her image away. She must have sensed what I had been thinking, for she smiled up at me, full of youthful innocence and gaiety.

We danced on for what seemed like hours, yet I felt I could have continued in the same vein, forever. It was not to be, however, for I suddenly found myself alone in the middle of the room, the music I had been dancing to now only a dim memory. The apparitions had likewise vanished, as smoke is dispelled by a gentle breeze. Of a sudden, I was extremely exhausted and I barely managed to stumble over to the nearest wall where I fairly collapsed onto the floor.

Sleep was rapidly overtaking me and the last thing I can recall is the voice of my grandmother, coming to me faintly, as if from a great distance, telling me never to forget her love for me and to remember the peace and happiness of this night. Then, she reassured me, just before I fell into a deep sleep, as she had done every night for so many years while I was a child, not to fear; her spirit would always be close to me and everything would ultimately be all right as long as I had faith in myself. As I drifted off, I thought I felt a soft flutter against my cheek, as if a pair of lips had gently brushed my face. I never knew whether that last touch was from my grandmother, or from my ghostly dancing partner. It didn't really matter. I would have liked to think it had been from both of them, wishing me goodbye, together.