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.”