Writing Prompt

Cinderella never lost her shoe. She ended up without a dance with a prince do she spent washing and cleaning the floor with her wicked ugly step sisters . I day a handsome young prince passef by the window and was captivated by her beauty. He ordered soldiers to enter the house and escort cindrella to him. There she met her prince where love blossomed. The wicked ugly sisters were sent to a dungeon.

The grandfather clock stuck midnight as the sound echoed throughout the park. Not many people were even out tonight to hear the clock, though some people were.

Cinderella with a beauty that only lasts to midnight, came stumbling and rushing her way out of the park at the sound of the chimes. She ran and ran not even glancing behind her.

She ran to the stairs then down them. And she kept running as the magic of her dress started to fade and reviel her poor looking clothing. Pretty soon, she came across her house which was very hard to spot in the cloak of darkness.

She started to slow down as she approached the house. Catching her breath as she slowly and quietly opened the door and went inside. The house was quiet, and Cinderella only hoped it would stay that way till tomorrow.

“And though Prince Charming will forget about me” She thinks “I’ll never forget him”

She ran down the stairs as the clock struck midnight, the bells ringing in the distance. The prince’s voice called after her, but she had her focus set. Cinderella had to get away. It was fun, true, being someone else for a night. But wearing those expensive pearls and her too-heavy gown was not her reality. Having all those eyes set on her, in awe or in hatred, was not quite what she had wanted.

Her carriage was at the foot of the stairs, the doors open and her footman, Gus, beckoning her to enter. She did not look back. The door closed behind her and a few seconds later, the carriage was in motion. The horses trodded as fast as they could, racing against the clock. 

With the house in view, the carriage began to shimmer and transform. Cinderella, who had been sitting on plush velvet seats, was thrown off onto the asphalt ground. She watched as the carriage shrunk, turning into nothing but a pumpkin. Nearby, the elegant, white horses also changed forms. Their long legs bent into themselves, huge bodies and long tails becoming smaller and smaller, until they were barely a tenth of their previous size. They squeaked and cried, running in circles and bumping into each other. Gus, who had looked so regal earlier, was now reduced to a mouse as well, biting its fingers and cleaning off its tail.

Cinderella, herself, was not immune to the changes. Her beautiful blue gown and her jewelry had transformed into her familiar rags — a simple thin dress with a stained apron. She stood up and dusted herself off.

“Well, that was quite a night, wasn’t it?” Cinderella said.

It was Cinderella’s sixth night of being locked in the attic. A few months have passed since the ball and here she was, on another streak of being locked up. Sometimes, her stepmother would let her out to clean or cook. But most days and nights, she was left to herself with nothing to do but reminisce on her single night of freedom. Her stomach grumbled as she looked out of her window. A single mouse scurried around her room picking up her crumbs, her only source of entertainment in her lovely bedroom.

“Oh, Cinderella,” a familiar voice said behind her, “what have they done to you now?”

Cinderella shifted. Fairy Godmother rushed to her, enveloping her thin body in her arms. 

“You’re here. Please. Do it again.” Cinderella asked.

Fairy Godmother cupped Cinderella’s gaunt face. Fairy Godmother sobbed as she said, “You know I cannot.”

Cinderella slapped Fairy Godmother’s hands away and moved to the farther end of the room, her back turned. “But Fairy Godmother… this is your fault. You should have known this is what they would do to me,” her voice barely a whisper.

“I… I only hoped to —“

“Stop.” Cinderella said as she faced Fairy Godmother. “I have been waiting and waiting. What took you so long?”

Fairy Godmother watched as Cinderella moved slowly towards her. She took a couple of steps back, but not quite enough as Cinderella was now standing an inch away from her. Something in Cinderella had changed since she’d last saw her. Her eyes were dark and empty now, Fairy Godmother realized.

“No matter. You’re here now. So please,” Cinderella said, as her lips slowly curved upwards. “Please do your magic to me.”

“Cinderella…” Fairy Godmother whispered.

“Just a little transformation! Can’t you do that Fairy Godmother?”

Fairy Godmother shook her head, “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

Cinderella frowned at her. She’d imagined this encounter differently. During her solitary nights, she’d imagined Fairy Godmother arriving and happily waving her wand to help her out of the nightmare she was living in. She’d ask Fairy Godmother to do it all again, make something shiny out of her rags and those pesky little mice. Except, well, her little friends had been reduced to just one. She couldn’t quite catch that one — Gus, maybe — but the rest have been useful. 

“It’s alright. I’ve been preparing if things went differently. You can’t leave now, I’m afraid, my Fairy Godmother.”

The room felt sinister and heavy. Fairy Godmother consciously tried to disappear and magic herself out and away from Cinderella, but a force was keeping her tied right where they were. 

Cinderella took out a pouch from her apron’s pocket. It was old and dirty. She took out a bunch of small, cream-white colored objects from within, and showed it to Fairy Godmother from the palm of her thin hand. “You see, I’ve been busy praying, reaching out to anyone,” She laughed. “—offering my friends. They’ve really helped a lot! Someone’s answered, too.”

Fairy Godmother trembled. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. Her skin was shiny with sweat, and her breathing was raspy. She stared horrifyingly as Cinderella dropped the small bones on the ground one by one. Slowly, Fairy Godmother’s wand began to lose its glow. Cinderella took it from her and Fairy Godmother groaned as it turned into a deep, black shade. 

Cinderella pointed the newly transformed wand at Fairy Godmother and said, “Bippity… boppity… boop.”

Cinderelly, Cinderelly Night and day it's Cinderelly Make the fire, fix the breakfast Wash the dishes, do the mopping And the sweeping and the dusting They always keep her hopping

Then announced in spring By order of the King A ball for maidens of the land The prince must find a wife After a mended dress and Fairy Godmother's touch Cinderella's ready for the best night of life

But this particular version of the tale Alters one slight yet crucial detail For at the stroke of midnight when the bells rang out Carriages turned to pumpkins and horses to mice Cinderella's mad dash was complete with both shoes But what happens when we roll that dice?

Maybe after her magical night Cinderella found her wings and flew to the light The light being the prince, the honoree of the ball Under the moon glow she made her great escape From the under Lady Tremaine's wretched grip Upon her arrival, just like at the ball, the Prince spun her into a dip

On the other hand, of course The status quo could have been the winning force The Tremaine's continue to inflict their misery While the Prince mourns the one who got away Many years pass, the Prince's life will go on But he spares thought for his mystery princess and hopes she's okay

So I suppose we can never really know If Cinderella's fate really would have changed or how so Was she destined to be stuck as a servant forever? Was her royal, happy ending still in the cards? Questions that will always remained unanswered Cause her shoes slipped off as she raced past the guards

Ella was locked in the attic. Again. She was starting to realize how not many people got locked in dusty rooms and forced to serve their step families. Many actually had functional relationships and had friends. Gus and the other mice scurried towards her from the cobwebbed corners, and she giggled through her sobs. Madeline had laughed when Ella told her about the chubby mouse who was always searching for cheese. Ella could still picture her bright red hair and even brighter smile. Madeline had been the only other girl there alone without her family, who had stayed home to watch her baby brothers. Madeline had also been the one to introduce her to Dane. Ella had been too dazzled by the soaring marble pillars and mountains of cake to notice the Crown Prince walk towards her, so Madeline had yanked her towards him and left her to meet the most charming boy ever. But he wasn’t just charming. Dane had complimented her dress and didn’t laugh when she said that she had designed (even though her Fairy Godmother had actually made it). He listened as she spoke of her dream to design dresses for girls everywhere, and even nodded along as she mentioned her experimental idea for a machine to do basic stitches. He said that was a brilliant idea, and that he wish he had a mind for mechanics like that. When she asked about his passions, he had burst out laughing, saying that he had never had time to explore anything other than his family business. He never said anything beyond that, so Ella had let it go. The two had danced and walked and conversed for the rest of the ball. For a few hours Ella had just been Ella. Not ‘Cinderella’ or ‘Servant Girl’ or ‘A Nuisance’. She had been free. Then that stupid clock had struck midnight, and she fled the ball without even saying goodbye to either of her new friends. Ella groaned. Now look at her: locked in an attic after the night of her life. “I’m sure this is the one,” a voice muttered from outside the window. Ella peered out and gasped. Dane was standing at the front porch with the royal guards at his side. “You said that about the last five,” Madeline complained, popping out of the carriage on the street. “And this time it’s true!” Dane exclaimed, “We’ll keep looking until we find a lead. There’s no way Ella would just run away without saying goodbye if something wasn’t wrong.” Ella started banging on the window. They had actually come for her! Dane rang the doorbell, and Stepmother stepped out, “What do you want- Oh! Prince Dane, what a pleasure. How can I serve you?” “Yes, have you seen a girl named Ella? She’s about this tall, shimmery-golden hair and sparkling blue eyes?” Stepmother seemed to gulp, “Can’t say I have seen a girl like that, but I do know an Ella! She’s my youngest, let me go get her.” Ella laughed. She was actually gonna get to see her friends again! But, no footsteps came up the stairs. No key turned the lock. Stepmother walked back outside holding Anastasia’s hand. “This is my dearest daughter, Ella. She is both fair and polite!” Stepmother declared with a smirk, glancing at the attic window. Madeline scoffed, “There is no way that’s Ella. She’s would never wear a dress that atrocious.” “What would you know, you… uh… you peasant!” Anastasia screeched, smoothing out her plum and chartreuse skirt. All four of them started to argue, while the guards just stood, looking bewildered. Ella glanced up at the tree, only a few feet away from the window. The thick branches seemed to grasp at the house, just like they had since Ella was a little girl. She had spent hours climbing that old oak, back when Dad was alive. Couldn’t be too different now, could it? Ella huffed. She was tired of being treated like a servant, like someone unworthy of love. Madeline and Dane (who was apparently a prince?) had proved that wrong. Ella looked down and saw the two glass slippers glimmering in the late afternoon sunlight. She grasped one in each hand, and hurled them at the window before she could talk herself out of it. The window broke in a shower of glass, causing everyone to stop arguing and jump back. With a leap, Ella soared out the window and grabbed the closest branch, hoisting herself up. She scurried down the oak like a squirrel and landed right next to Dane. “What… H-how?” Dane sputtered, blushing, “That was really cool.” “Ella!” Madeline shrieked, throwing her arms around Ella. Stepmother glowered, “That’s not Ella! Her name is Cinder and she is still my ward. Therefore, I declare she can not leave until she affords to pay off the broken window and any other damages!” Stepmother grinned, clearly plotting to make it impossible for Ella to ever pay her back. “I will personally pay for any necessary repairs, and Ella is no longer going to stay here,” Dane said, “If that’s okay? I know Madeline said you could stay with her for a while,” he whispered in Ella’s ear. She shivered at the closeness, “I would like that a lot, Prince Dane.” “Oh, uh… probably should have told you that at the start.” “You think?” Madeline laughed, shaking her hand and grabbing Ella’s arm. The three started walking back towards the carriage. “Well, it makes sense. _Prince Charming _fits you, Dane,” Ella giggled as Dane grew beet red. “Wait! You can’t just leave!” Stepmother screeched, starting forward before getting stopped by the guards. Ella turned to face her, “This house holds nothing but pain, Stepmother. Just so you know, the mop is in the closet and the stove only starts if you blow on it three times. Oh! And mouse traps are a waste of money. Gus-Gus is too smart for that.” She turned and walked forward, hand in hand with her friends, towards her fairytale freedom.

Once upon a time. A young beautiful girl with golden blonde hair, petite frame, pale ivory skin and bright blue eyes was caring for her father in a small village that resided on the outskirts of the kingdom. Her name was Cinderella.

After the sudden passing of her mother, the year prior. Cinderella filled in to her mothers duties not only caring for the house, her father and the farm animals this left her with no time to attend school. Her life was dedicated to the promise she made to her mother that she would take care of her family.

Cinderella wasn’t born with a silver spoon, her father was a honest hard working man who taught her to be kind and gentle. He worked as a groundskeeper, tough job for a elder man he was nearly 75 years old. His job was interesting as he always found baby birds who fell from the nest, he would bring them home for her to aid back to health. Cinderella had quite the collection of animals who she saved. However instead of them leaving they always returned nightly as they viewed her as their “Mother”

Although, Cinderella wasn’t able to finish school like the other kids. She understood her responsibilities were far greater, she lost a good portion of her friends as she never had time to go do anything with them. Eventually they stopped asking her. At 20 years old, Cinderella had not been on a date. This raised alarm bells for her father who had been married at 18. When he questioned Cinderella on her thoughts for her future, Cinderella laughed and said, “I have no interest” she did not find any of her old classmates attractive or have a connection with them.

The truth was since she was a small girl. She had been having the same dream every so often about a boy with dark hair tall, blue grey eyes and a smile that melted her. Secretly she had always been searching for him. Unsure if he existed, she tried to look into the eyes of men who she came across while out in town.

Her father stated their had been a notice in the paper about a ball in the neighboring town this Saturday. He told Cinderella she could attend however had to be picked up by midnight, no later as he had a double shift to work that day. Not appearing interested. Cinderella agreed to attend just to catch up with some of her old friends. Her father expressed this would be a great opportunity to find a husband Cinderella, he stated his concerns about her being alone if he passed.

Cinderella chuckled,“Do I have to?” Her father stated. “Yes! I want grandchildren and I want to make sure I you will be cared for if something happens to me” Begrudgingly, Cinderella agrees to attend the ball.

Over the next week she shopped for the perfect dress. However, was not able to find a dress. The dress maker asked her what she wanted, Cinderella was unsure but it was not what she had been shown. After trying on every option Cinderella decided to make it herself. Time is drawing closer to the ball her dress not yet finished. Finally the last ribbon is added. However with her mind focused on her dress, she forgot to pick up new shoes to go with it. Panic set in as she did not have time to go back to town.

Cinderella hears laughter at her door followed by a knock, it’s her father with a surprise, “I thought you may need these?”Glass slippers!”Cinderella expresses with excitement. These match her light blue gown, glass headband and her mother’s diamond earrings and necklace. The same set her mother adorned on her wedding day. Her father thought it may bring her luck in finding a husband.

Cinderella comes down and her father begins to cry. Cinderella doesn’t understand why she thought he wanted her to go. He says to her “you look just like your mother, I didn’t realize how much until now.” He gives Cinderella a corsage to wear with white roses, pale pink and white Lilly’s and they are off to the ball.

Her father drops her off, reminding her midnight he will return to take her home. Not one minute later! He shouts. Cinderella in her blue gown walk in to the check in station where she runs into a few old classmates. They catch up and begin to walk out into the main ball room. Upon entering, they notice a group of males all appearing to stare at Cinderella. Some she recognizes and others not familiar still no one really catches her eye.

The men approach the group of girls who begin to giggle with excitement until they realize the attention is being directed toward Cinderella.

Cinderella unaware, smiles and greets them being polite, still no one she would consider. She was able to catch up with some of her classmates while doing so, she is oblivious to the upset behind her.

During the interaction with their male classmates the females with Cinderella became upset. Not just because they fawned over her but her reaction to the attention. They take notice how flippant she has been acting as if she could care less. This leaves a poor taste in their mouth, two by two they excuse themselves and meet in the bathroom. They begin to question each other, “Did you see how she didn’t even care they were talking to her?” “Who does she think she is?”

The nail in her coffin was when her old friend, Laura, saw her crush asking Cinderella to dance. Even though she was friends with Cinderella, Laura was in love. Friend or not, Laura didn’t seem to value loyalty to her old friend. Love sometimes makes you do crazy things. Laura devised a plan, she made up story about Cinderella, starting with, the reason she wasn’t in school.

Laura expressed it was due to having a baby out of wedlock. Laura went on to say, Cinderella’s baby was her father’s! Laura added that Cinderella placed the baby for adoption. And if this wasn’t malicious enough she concluded, when Cinderella’s mother found out she couldn’t recover from so much betrayal of her husband and daughter, she died from broken heart.

This story spread like wildfire and before everyone returned from the bathroom back to the ballroom. This story had made it across the room like lightning . Cinderella noticed there was apparent shift in the room, when she questioned an old friend on what she missed?

Cinderella noticed a hum and awkward stares that were just a moment ago smiles. When asked, her friend played dumb and stated “not sure, I was with you” even though she had heard already what had been said.

One of the men who overheard and had a few too many to drink took it upon himself to get to the bottom of the story. He questioned Cinderella about her “child” if it really had “six fingers” because her father was also the child’s father. Cinderella questioned him on what he was saying, when he spilled the story Laura created, every one began laughing at her.

Cinderella did not have a mean, bone in her body, humiliation and confusion set in and instantly began to swell with tears. She ran down the hall towards the closest exit. She couldn’t believe how cruel her “friends” could be and did not understand why they would be this way, she thought they had a good relationship. To make up something so vile about her and her family was disgusting to her.

Cinderella with make up in her eyes accidentally ran into a man as he entered the building. He says “miss can you tell me where the dance is?” Cinderella not able to speak only sob,looks at the man, wiping her tears. He interrupted before she could speak asking if he hurt her when he ran into her. Cinderella shakes her head, “no”. He questions in confusion”Miss, what happened? What caused you to become this upset? The ball just began”

He grabs her gently and he carries her outside to get some air and helps her calm down. Still her head is spinning with confusion. She tells him the story that was shared with her. He says ,”I hate to ask, but it isn’t true right?”Cinderella said “No!” However now instead of tears, she is visibly mad. The man says” miss I was only kidding. It was such a ridiculous story, I knew it wasn’t true. I just wanted to see you smile” he asks her to return inside for a dance she declines stating she is to embarrassed to return. The man questions, “why would you be embarrassed it isn’t true” Cinderella says he is correct however the others don’t know that.

The man continues to try and convince her to enjoy her night she has a beautiful dress and is in a castle. Finally Cinderella agrees with only 20 minutes left before midnight they return to the ball.

Cinderella looks into his blue, grey eyes and time stood still. She felt her breath leave her body and could not look away, neither one could. She thinks to herself, his eyes are so familiar to me. The man extended his hand and they walk into the center of the ballroom, not uttering a word. Their bodies moved together as if they are mirroring the other. Two bodies appeared at quick glance to be one.

They swirled around as if they were the only two that existed in the room. The man, quite confident, looks Cinderella in the eyes and leans in to kiss her, just then the clock rings out -it is time. Cinderella’s daze broken by the sound realizes her father will be there to pick her up she excuses herself in a hurry. The man puzzled by why she is leaving so abruptly. Isn’t satisfied with her response and pursues her to the exit, far ahead of him Cinderella knows she was lucky to be able to attend and doesn’t want to make her father wait. She leaves without the strangers name or saying goodbye.

Weeks later both can’t shake that night. Cinderella is struggling to recall his face but her dream has returned almost nightly. The only thing for certain she can recall is the color of his eyes. What she fails realize is he is closer than she thinks. She walks past his house almost daily. He lives in the giant palace overlooking the town, high upon the hill. The man, in his own right is successful . A member of the royal family, he is the son of the king, not as well known as the first, he is the third son.

His name is Prince Eric. He is handsome, educated, wealthy and most of all single. He also cant be stop thinking about her, however he doesn’t know who she is or how to find her.

He sends out a search party to try and locate her however just like Cinderella over the weeks he can only recall the beautiful hues of blue that twinkled in her eyes. The party comes to her house however she missed the knocking on the door she was singing and moping the floor, never hearing the attempt.

Both know, they belong together and feel a pull towards one another other . However they never meet again.

The prince is arranged to marry another princess, after a year since the ball. Unwillingly to want to give up his search he knows he can’t go against his family. He marries and has two children.

Cinderella also marries a young teacher. Their first dance at their wedding, he stepped on her foot and broke her toe. Not exactly romantic she thought, Cinderella goes on to have two children also. She still kept her eyes out for the mystery man, trying to find him. She never did. She often wondered,” what if” “was he the one? “Cinderella loved her husband it was just different of course she loved her children however she could not rid herself of this feeling her encounter with this man was fate, it was magical. It was as if they were one soul that upon birth had separated with the agreement to find each other.

She knew that sounded crazy but the only way she could ever explain it. She often questioned when words are not spoken,how could this be? How can I know someone without talking? But just like Cinderella, Prince Eric, found himself often thinking back to that evening, wondering “what if?”What would his life be like?

He did learn to love his wife also but Cinderella was different, holding her was an instant connection . He struggled to find words that expressed his emotions. “Magnetic”Prince Eric shared his thoughts with his brother, who smiled and said, “ Well you know what that was? It was once in a lifetime, love. And you let it slip through your fingers, this is why I will be King and you willl be a pretty face hanging in a portrait on the wall”

Eric chuckles and says,” maybe your right Matthew, I missed it” Matthew agrees and explains, “this is why, when opportunities present themselves you just go for it otherwise you could spend your life wondering,what if.”

“We are the Chosen. We are the buds of spring. We are the first shoots. We are the green branches. We are the Chosen.”

The nubile women of Sanctuary repeated the ancient lines as they marched from the town square to the Auggie river. With flushed cheeks some shouted the ancient incantation. A few of the youngest, the girls in their first moon, whispered the words behind embarrassed fingers. Most like Liliac repeated the saying by rote and hoped the annual ritual would be over quickly.

Once at the river the nubile women of Sanctuary would disrobe and bathe in the sacred waters in preparation for the Green Ball. Unfortunately the rains had washed stumps and debris into the Auggie. Frothy, the cold river beckoned. Shivering she remembered last year’s ceremony. Her heart began to beat harder as if to break from her rib cage.

The hooting of the boys who hid among the riverside brush met her ears shaking her from her memories. Lilac sighed. The women in the front of the procession were already undressing. The guardians had promised to crack down on rude youths. The church elders said boys will be boys.

Splat! A rancid persimmon smacked the side of Lilac’s head. Slamming her knees on the hard packed earth, she stumbled forward. Old fruit and clods of mud were lobbed from the trees. Squealing, some women began to run. No one would stop to help her. No one could stop to help her. It was not the way. Her sisters hurried around her pretending not to see. Bethany the baker’s daughter deliberately stepped on her hand. Liliac kissed her sore fingers and promised to put extra pebbles in Bethany’s family’s flour bags next time.

Determined not to be among the last women to wash Liliac struggled up. She limped towards the water.

“Miss! Your slipper. “

Liliac whipped around. A shabby youth was half in the path half in the brush holding out Liliac’s shoe. While the young man’s clothes were coarse his smooth fingers revealed he was a rich man’s son. Unmoving Liliac glared at him.

“Miss! The walk is long. The rocks are sharp. You don’t want to be spoilt for the Green Ball do you?”

While his eyes roamed her body, he flicked the shoe from side to side. From his accent the young man was clearly highborn. He and his ilk would be the Chosers at tonight’s ball. Something burned inside her. Liliac reached down. With all her might she flung the other shoe.

The young nobleman fell backwards in surprise. Someone gasped. A smile split his features. Liliac wanted to run and run and never stop running. But where? She thought. The ancient cities were deserts. Towns, the few there were, were spread far and wide.

Head thrown back, the nobleman laughed. Liliac ducked her head down and turned to the water. Numb, she undressed. There was nothing but the cold muddy water and the long walk to tonight’s ball. as more laughter from the forest fell on her bare shoulders, Liliac washed her feet. Tonight she had to dance.

They said it was the perfect herl, it would never fall off No matter how hard you tried, no matter, how soft Because this glass heel was designed to always last To never break, to remain steadfast, and indefinite past So Cinderella would never meet her true love A heavenly angel, sent from above Who would bear himself if the slipper should fall off But it never will, no matter how hard you try, no matter how soft

She only had until 12 In a poofy Big Blue Dress From fairy godmother She went to that ball In her pumpkin carriage

The prince was there And danced with her He’d never seen her Known her Or heard of her

Her dream had come true To go to the ball And meet the prince

The clock struck It was midnight

She ran from the ball With no explanation

The prince was confused Why had she ran?

The next morning He tried to find her He knew she was Blonde With blue eyes And she she looked Stunning

He and a group They went to every house Just to find her So the prince could marry her

A knock at the door She was locked away He looked at her stepsisters Stepmother hoping He’d marry one

Yet she had escaped The mice freed her

She and the prince Looked into each other’s eyes He knew she was the one The beautiful Blonde hair The glowing Blue eyes

She was the one The one he wanted

They had married She was free from Her stepsisters And stepmother

And they lived Happily Ever After

I watch in dismay as Prince Charming’s carriage drives away. It seems that the grime and soot from my daily chores created enough of a disguise that he didn’t recognize me. The dress my fairy godmother had so graciously provided had long since vanished. Without any way to prove that it was me that had danced with him, he had no choice but to move onto the next house. Looking for me.

Worst of all, my Stepmother was suspicious of my insistence that the prince might recognize me. I was supposed to be at home, doing chores while my step sisters enjoyed themselves at the ball. She couldn’t prove I actually went, but the cruel look in her eyes wordlessly told me that a particularly nasty slew of chores would be heading my way.

———————————————

Two weeks later, Prince Charming announced he would be hosting another grand ball, encouraging all who attended before to return for another night of mirth, stating that the previous one was so enjoyable it would be a shame to not host another. In reality, everyone was aware of the real reason for the second party. He wanted to coax out the mysterious woman he had spent most of the first evening with. The town hummed with rumors about who this mysterious woman was, but no one seemed to know for sure. As the night of the second ball approached, the town’s tailors found themselves in high demand as almost every eligible woman in town tried to commission a dress styled after the one worn by the mystery woman.

I, however, was stuck indoors. The watchful eye of my stepmother always looming as chore after chore was assigned to me, each one worse than the last. When the night of the ball approached, my stepsisters were sent off in their band new dresses, imitations of the one I had worn before. I was tasked of scrubbing every inch of the floor of the house. My stepmother only provided the smallest of brushes, and watched me closely the entire time, leaving me no opportunity to slip out to the ball. The grand clock tower slowly announced each passing hour, Prince Charming fruitlessly searching for the one maiden who was not in attendance.

———————————————

It’s been almost a year now since the first ball. Many more have followed, each more extravagant than the last. The royal reserves have been almost fully depleted by this point, despite the increased taxes levied by the crown. Prince Charming has taken to inviting women from surrounding kingdoms to these events, hoping in vain that she will show up. That I will show up. But my stepmother sees to it that I’m never given the chance.

Normal household chores are no longer a good enough punishment in her mind. These days, I spend most of my time locked in the basement, alone and in the dark. I don’t know when exactly she figured out that I was indeed the mystery woman, but she does everything in her power prevent another chance encounter. I was even quietly removed from the local census. Now, official records show that the only residents here are her and my two stepsisters. It seems she’d rather see the kingdom fall into ruin than let me have any happiness.

At night, when I’m alone, I find myself thinking. If only there was some way that Prince Charming could have identified me. Then, one night, in the silence and dark of my basement prison, a soft voice answers. I recognize it, although it’s been almost a rear since I’ve heard it. It’s my fairy godmother.

“Oh my seeet child. It seems things haven’t turned out quite right… do you want to try again?”

I nod my head, already formulating what to do differently. How I can leave some sort of clue to Prince Charming that I’m the one he’s searching for.