This is America, the land of opportunity. My world is a world filled with freedom and with choice. Before I met you, Russia was somewhere that I had only heard about. It was as foreign to me as the moon. It was somewhere that I had no desire to be. The political differences stood between us like a wall of stone. But you can't control the feelings coming from the heart and mine fell in love with you.

   I could see the fire blazing in your eyes. Your anger for what I stood for was visible in the way you walked. You drove me crazy with your attitude and the way you talked about "America". None of that mattered because I had never met a woman as beautiful as you.

   I couldn't resist those dark, vulnerable eyes, or the fair skin surrounded by hair so blonde that it outshined the sun.

   'Share a cup of tea with somebody who is unfriendly and your loneliness is ended.'

   I could hear the pain you tried to hide, a deeper meaning, behind those words when you said them. All I wanted to do is hold you in my arms and make the pain disappear.  I wanted nothing more than to love you, to protect you, and to be with you for the rest of my life.  My heart was ready for you.

   You were a young Russian ballerina in America. No matter how much I wanted it, I knew it wasn't possible. I couldn't ask you to give up your life for me. You had your whole career ahead of you. You weren't ready for America yet. The world is changing but not fast enough for the two of us to make it. I had to let you go.

   Since you've left, my life has pretty much gone back to normal, almost. The days are bearable, but your face haunts me every night.

   The mornings are the worst. When I wake up and realize it was just a dream, those are the moments that I miss you the most. I feel the gaping hole that is in my heart; a hole that was once filled with love for you. You took that piece of my heart with you when you left.

   Playing the guitar reminds me of you now. I can see you sitting on the floor beside me. I can still feel the warmth of your head against my leg. I call the song, Anna's song now, because I always think of you when I play it.

   My Ballerina Girl, I still miss you every day. Maybe one day, when the world turns fast enough, you'll be ready for America. Maybe some day we'll be together again and you'll bring back the piece of my heart that is yours alone.

********

   Ballerina Girl
   You are so lovely
   With you standing there
   I'm so aware
   Of how much I care for you

   You are more than now
   You are for always
   I can see in you
   My dreams come true
   Don't you ever go away

   You make me feel like
   There's nothing I can't do
   And when I hold you
   I only want to say
   I love you

   Ballerina Girl
   The joy you bring me
   Every day and night
   Holding you tight
   How I've waited for your love

   Sometimes I've wondered
   If you'd ever come my way
   Now that I've finally found you
   This is where my heart will stay

   I'm never gonna break your heart
   Never will we drift apart
   'Cause all I wanna do
   Is share my whole life with you

   'Cause you make me feel like
   There's nothing I can't do
   I guess I finally realized
   There's nothing else like loving you

   Ballerina Girl
   You are so lovely
   I can see in you
   My dreams come true
   Don't you ever go away
   Ballerina Girl
            ~ Lionel Richie

THE END