The Glass Slipper

The​ ​glass​ ​slipper​ ​came​ ​off​ ​of​ ​Cinderella's​ ​foot​ ​as​ ​the​ ​clock​ ​struck

midnight.​ ​​ ​Looking​ ​back​ ​one​ ​last​ ​time​ ​at​ ​her​ ​prince​ ​standing​ ​stunned​ ​on​ ​the

stairs​ ​holding​ ​her​ ​shoe,​ ​she​ ​jumped​ ​into​ ​her​ ​carriage.​ ​​ ​As​ ​she

rode​ ​away,​ ​she​ ​pried​ ​the​ ​other​ ​slipper​ ​off​ ​and​ ​tossed​ ​the​ ​damn

thing​ ​out​ ​the​ ​window.​ ​​ ​Both​ ​her​ ​feet​ ​were​ ​sore​ ​and​ ​rubbed​ ​bloody

by​ ​the​ ​unforgiving​ ​material.​ ​​ ​She​ ​stretched​ ​her​ ​toes​ ​and​ ​sighed.

She​ ​had​ ​to​ ​really​ ​grin​ ​and​ ​bare​ ​it​ ​through​ ​that​ ​last​ ​dance​ ​with​ ​the

Prince,​ ​but​ ​as​ ​the​ ​man​ ​was​ ​a​ ​handsome​ ​and rich ​so​ ​it​ ​may​ ​have

been​ ​worth​ ​it.

The​ ​day​ ​after​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​word​ ​spread​ ​quickly​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Prince's

unorthodox​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​choose​ ​his​ ​bride.​ ​​ ​Cinderella​ ​relished​ ​the​ ​idea

of​ ​seeing​ ​her​ ​dance​ ​partner​ ​once​ ​again​ ​and​ ​waited​ ​patiently​ ​as

her​ ​step-sisters​ ​both​ ​failed​ ​the​ ​fitting.​ ​​ ​Covered​ ​in​ ​cinders,​ ​she

stood​ ​regally​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Prince​ ​and​ ​held​ ​out​ ​her​ ​foot.​ ​​ ​Her​ ​toe

was​ ​bruised,​ ​her​ ​heel​ ​was​ ​cut up,​ ​and​ ​her​ ​foot​ ​was​ ​swollen.​ ​​ ​The

Prince​ ​gingerly​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​put​ ​the​ ​slipper​ ​on.​ ​​ ​Cinderella​ ​cringed​ ​as

the​ ​shoe​ ​made​ ​contact.​ ​​ ​Her​ ​foot​ ​was​ ​too​ ​swollen​​ ​and

the​ ​slipper​ ​got​ ​stuck​ ​halfway​ ​on.

"You​ ​must​ ​see​ ​my​ ​feet​ ​are​ ​battered​ ​from​ ​dancing​ ​with​ ​you​ ​in

glass​ ​heels.​ ​​ ​Surely​ ​you​ ​remember​ ​my​ ​face?"​ ​​ ​The​ ​Prince​ ​shook

his​ ​head.

"I'm​ ​not​ ​really​ ​good​ ​with​ ​faces.​ ​​ ​Hence​ ​the​ ​shoe​ ​plan,"​ ​he​ ​held​ ​up

the​ ​shoe​ ​in​ ​display​ ​before​ ​running​ ​off​ ​to​ ​marry​ ​the​ ​first​ ​size​ ​8

narrow​ ​he​ ​found.​ ​​ ​Cinderella​ ​remained​ ​behind​ ​to​ ​silently​ ​cursed

her​ ​fairy​ ​godmother​ ​for​ ​choosing​ ​style​ ​over​ ​substance.