Ballerina (Gapless)

When I was growing up
I had this friend with a jewelry box
That played the prettiest little tune
Her house wasn't the nicest
And her clothes always smelled like smoke
And her parents drank too much
But she still managed to have eyes
Like endless untouched seas of aquamarine
That sparkled like wine glasses
Made of crystal without fingerprints
And windows of skyscrapers in the city
And she told me when she felt sad
She'd twist the delicate silver knob on the back
And the perfect, little blue ballerina
Would pirouette eternally
And get lost in a world of beauty and simplicity

When we first tried drugs
I remember the look on her face when she really felt it
Wide eyes, like when she was young and amazed
And in disbelief of the littlest wonders
It almost made me sad how
Effortlessly happy she was in that moment
She looked at me and laughed and I laughed too
Because if happiness were to last only in this moment
Then I guess that would be just okay
And we hugged and cried a little too
I always used to tell her she deserved everything
That she couldn't see all the best parts of herself
But it was so clear to me
That if I had a camera rolling in my head
I could make the most incredible montage
Of all the beautiful things she was

She told me that she got that jewelry box
In a neighbor's yard sale
Hidden under worn out dolls
And puppets with tangled strings
And when she saw it dance
She felt like there was no pain, or fear
Or scary, big things
Now the song is out of tune
The ballerina's dress faded
The spinning more mechanical
But to her it's escape
It's possibility, and promise, and beauty, and ease
It's a simple thing that stands for a lot of important things
To her, it's being small and safe
And in a world all your own