“可以和我跳支舞吗？”里克邀请我说，“虽然错过了训练队的舞会，但并不意味着我们不能在这儿跳舞。”我顿时满眼泪水。“当然。”我吞吞吐吐地说。那位护士把窗帘合上，只打开浴室的灯。我的朋友们双双跳起了舞，里克也搂住我的腰，随着音乐翩翩起舞。“我很高兴你恢复了健康。”他说，“每晚，我都会给你父母打电话问你的消息。”“他们没有跟我说。”我整了整头发，希望别太乱。他笑着说：“不用担心，你看起来很漂亮。”
我们大概跳了好几个钟头，根本不在乎走廊中旁观的人，还有在旁边跳着舞的父母。我穿着两件极不正式的病号服，但我并不介意。音乐结束了，里克把我扶到轮椅上，推我下了楼，又把我扶进接我回家的豪华轿车里。我永远无法忘记所经历的那个下午。没有美丽的头发，也没有华丽的礼服，但我体会到了真正的美丽——被爱。
"WouldyouliketobemydatefortheROTCdance？" '， ！ Hewantedtogowithme？ "Areyouserious？" "It'ssemiformal， soyou'llneedadress， butmyparentswillpayfortheticketsandthelimo，" —achariottakingPrinceCharmingandmetotheball？ Mymouthworded， "Yes，" ， ！
Themomentgothome， ItoldmymomaboutRick'， ''？ Wouldit？ CouldIbetransformedintoabeautifulprincess？ BeforeIknewit， '， 'tmove.
"Honey， you'regoingtobelateforschool… areyouokay？" ."Ohno！ You'vegotafever." Ididn'tfeelhot； Ifeltcold， ， ' "One-hundred-four-degreefever."
Thehospital'sbrightlightingwasblindingasanursewithlong， 'trememberseeinghercomeintomyroom， onlytheblanketbeingthrownontopofme."Cold， verycold，" Isaid， "Theblanketisfilledwithice." Sheexplained， "." Iclosedmyeyes.
ItseemedonlyafewminuteslaterwhenIheard， "Goodmorning." Mydoctorwokeme."I'， we'， nose， andthroatinfection， butitseemswenowhaveitundercontrol." "Mom？" Igasped."Dad？" "I'mrighthere." ."DidImissthedance？" Mymomsmiled."." "Ohno！" Icried."There'llbeotherdances，" saidmydoctor."Bethankfulyou'llbealivetoseethem." Dayspassed.
'， ？ Icaredsomuchaboutlookinggood， ."Putthisonbackwardssoyourrumpwon'tshow，" shesaid.
"WhydoIneedtodothat？ Aren'tIgoinghometoday？ I'vegotonegownonalready." Sheleft， shuttingthedoor， andalthoughIdidn'tfeellikeputtingonanothergown， ， mytwobestfriendsinformals， theirdates， andRickinatuxedo.
"Wouldyoucareforadance？" Rickasked."JustbecauseyoumissedtheROTCdancedoesn'tmeanwecan'thaveourownrighthere—rightnow." Tearscametomyeyes."Sure，" ."I'msogladyouareokay，" hesaid."Icalledyourparentseverynighttocheckuponyou." "Theydidn'ttellme." Ipulledatmyhairsoitwouldn'tlookunbrushed."Don'tworry." Hesmiled."Youlookbeautiful."
Forwhatseemedlikehours， '， butIdidn'， 'thavemyhairfancilydoneorevenaprettydress， butIlearnedhowtofeeltrulybeautiful—tobeloved.
