Dazzle by Oh Wonder
"You got diamonds in your eyes tonight
Throwing fire, trying to make it right
You’re getting higher than the ceiling lights
And falling hard enough to lose the fight
Not in it for the money, just in it for the thrill
Living in the moment, paying for the kill
Golden grill of sadness, mid-life wasted youth
Always ends up like this, always gonna lose" 
Cadence believes that money is a curse. She's seen the greed it sparks within people up close in her own life, and always loses the fight when convincing them to let it go:
Cadence's shoulders shook as she tried to hold back her sobs. They couldn't just close the zoo. It was her sanctuary, her safe place. She didn't have a clue why they were closing it, either. It was a beautiful place filled to the brim with discovery and wonder. The arboretum in particular was amazingly peaceful, and she loved to go and write her stories there. She also loved feeding the giraffes, and stroking the manta rays, or even watching the monkeys monkey around. And where would the animals go? Were they even finding them a new zoo, or would they be set back to live in the wild with no survival skills? This was the multitude of questions that found their way out of her mouth while she was sitting worriedly in the managers office a bit later. O a
"I'm glad to hear that someone cares so much about the animals here," The woman said softly, bending down to the nine year old's level. "But the animals here will be well taken care of in zoos all over the country. There's nothing to worry about,"
"What about the arboretum? The flowers, the bees, the butterflies? They rely on it as a food source, and many birds have made their nests there, and in the other exhibits!" Cadence pressed, her eyes wide and watery. "Are you going to uproot them? Are you going to doom those chicks to a helpless future without a parent? Because we all know what happens when a human touches a bird nest. And all of this is because someone else thinks they can use the land better!"
"Sweetie, I'm really glad you love the zoo and its animals, but surely you've learned that animals adapt, and they'll be okay. These people have already bought the property. No matter what you say to convince me, the papers have been signed. They'd have to agree to cancel the agreement now," The manager cooed condescendingly, checking her watch. "I've got some adult stuff to take care of sweetie, but I'm sorry that you don't understand. When you're older, you'll get that this is just business." She said, ushering her out of the room, Cadence clinging to her stuffed giraffe, and the manager to her clipboard. The manager thought that the nine year old didn't understand her motives for making the descision she did, but, oh, Cadence understood perfectly. Money, the adult wanted money.
"Dazzle me, dazzle me, dazzle me with gold
You’ll never be what you wanna be with all that money, that money
Dazzle me, dazzle me, throw away your gold
You’ll never be what you wanna be with all that money, that money, that money"
Cadence believes that money can corrupt people, and the need for money can overcome anything else, even family:Cadence went home that night with tears pouring down her face. She'd sat in the arboretum for the last time, writing her book and listening to the birds chirping in the trees. After diner, she told her mom about her worries and the stupid, greedy manager who was selling the property that didn't care about the environment and would probably use the land for a polluting factory that would destroy our earth even more than it already was. Now, Cadence comes from a respected, and Influential family who ran a line of popular beauty products. Her sister was a model who currently worked for the company for advertising and would someday take it over. That's what her parents wanted her to do with her life too: Model, work for the company, make a ton of money... Cadence wasn't interested in that; she wanted to become an author. She wanted to create something that people would enjoy and remember. She wanted to make her own mark on the world, and a good one too, so she refused their offer. Her parents, though reluctantly, accepted her choice, as they'd already succeeded with one child. Cadence felt they were disappointed in her. She felt that they loved her sister more, and her mother's next words only proved what she already believed.
"Now Honey, it's all just business. Your father needed new land for another factory, and the zoo's land was the cheapest choice available to him," Her mother explained gently, patting her head. Cadence's breath caught in her throat. Her parents had done this? She clenched her jaw. "And Honey, we're keeping the arboretum intact, as it'll be perfect for shooting advertisements! You can still visit it if you wish! Also, with the product increase, we should have enough money to send you to both of those writing camps you wanted to do this summer! How does that sound?" Her mother chirped. Apparently her parents had thought that would placate her. The arboretum's peacefulness would still be ruined, and the wildlife would flee. It wasn't good enough.
"Mom, if you and Dad cancel the contract and the zoo's destruction, I'll do anything. I'll even take up modeling, just cancel the contract," Cadence pleaded. It was a blessing, she realized, that her parents had bought the land and not some other company. Her parents he could bargain with. Her parents might understand...
"Sorry Honey, Your Father and I no longer need more advertising, and we want you to be happy. Plus, there's more money to gain from a new factory than another new model, no matter how young and beautiful." She purred, stroking her daughter's hair. Cadence filled with contempt. Apparently, she was just another model to her parents, now that they'd convinced her sister to follow their guidance. She hated money; it destroyed everything.
"If you truly cared for my happiness, Mother, you'd throw away a bit of money to save it. You don't love me; you never did, and you never will." Cadence hissed, before sweeping out of the room.
