This was her paradise.  There was nowhere else on earth that made her feel this alive, this excited, this free. She felt so at ease, like nothing could possibly bother her.  After all, they don't call it "The Happiest Place on Earth" for nothing.  Utter BLISS.

She was approaching the front of the line.  Group after group was taken from this very spot into the greeting room.  She could only imagine the beauty she would be confronted with once she was behind those doors.  What would she say?  What would she do?  How would she stand?

“How many?” the greeter asked.

No answer.  “Two,” he responded from behind her.  How could she have forgotten he was there…again?

“Follow me, please.  This way.”  She turned to look at him, smiling from ear to ear.  He smiled back, shaking his head in amusement as he took her hand in his and followed the greeter.

The room was light gray with purple and yellow curtains.  A royal garden was painted on the wall.  Flowers, trees, bird baths, fountains.  The prettiest backyard anyone could ever imagine.  A backyard fit for a princess.

“You’ll be next with Cinderella,” the greeter told them.  “Thank you!” he replied.  She was too overjoyed to speak.  All she could think about was the princess at the end of the room.  Belle.

She hugged, giggled, posed, and small-talked with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel.  But now, it was her turn with Belle.

“Hello, Princess.  How are you today?”  Belle’s eyes sparkled as she reached her hand out.

“I’m fine.  How are you?”  too star-stricken to come up with anything else.  She took Belle’s outstretched hand.  She couldn’t take her eyes off of Belle’s perfectly fitted yellow ball gown.

“Is this your Prince Charming?” Belle asked, gesturing to him.  “You know, when I first met the Beast, I thought he had a Heart of Darkness, but once I got to know him, I found out that he has a heart of gold!  Is that what happened to you?”

“Yes, something like that,” she blushed and smiled.

“Well, Princess, what has been your favorite part of your day here in Magic Kingdom?”

“Meeting you…” she shyly responded.  She couldn’t believe that Belle was talking to her!  She also had no idea why she was acting like such a dork.  She couldn’t help it.  Something about this place brought her back in time.  She was a little girl again.

“Shall we take a picture together?”  Belle asked, extending her hand again.  She nodded and took Belle’s left hand in her own.  Then she posed, emulating Belle’s other hand which was held delicately away from the side of her body.  So elegant!

“One…two…three…”  FLASH!