Wishes

Sisters

The moment Ella got inside, her stepfamily returned. She quickly hid her slippers, and greeted them.

"How was the ball?"she asked, trying to contain her secret.

"It was... fun." Madame lied. "Florinda danced with the prince all night long!"

Ella saw Florinda's cheeks turn red. For once, she felt bad.

"Really? While I stayed home, I tried to imagine what the prince is like."

"You never could!" Lucinda sneered.

Ella put her hand on her hip.

"What if I could?"

"Ladies, we've had enough excitement for one night. Ella, stay up and clean the kitchen." Madame strutted out of the room with Lucinda. But Florinda secretly stayed behind. Both Ella and Florinda felt a bit uncomfortable standing in the kitchen.

"Miss," Ella politely asked. She never treated her stepfamily like her own close family.

"May I prepare you some... tea?"

Florinda nodded and carefully sat down.

Ella suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice.

"I admire you."

Ella spun around and looked at... Florinda.

Florinda can talk?!

"Yes, that was me," she said, looking directly at Ella.

"Thank you." Ella turned back to what she was doing.

"You know, I believe you saw the prince."

Ella froze. What should I say?

"I... did indeed. With my imagination."

"Tell me what you imagined."

"Well... I imagined he wore a snowy white coat. And... he was tall..."

"Wow." Florinda pulled her hand behind her back. "Quick! How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Two?"

"Three. Where did your amazing guessing skills go now?"

"You're just confused because I said the prince's coat had a golden hem..."

"You never said that before. And... it did. Something's going on..."

"I really have to get back to work." Ella began to pour tea out of a kettle.

"Here, let me help." Florinda put her hands on top of Ella's and poured a cup of tea.

"Your hand," she calmly spoke.

"It's so callused and rough, yet dainty and delicate. Just like the hand I shook at the ball. The one who danced with the prince."

Ella ran out of the room and into the hallway, with Florinda at her heels.

"One question, how in the world did you dance in glass shoes?"

"Look," Ella held her hands in front of her, backing away.

"This has been a really odd conversation, and all I was trying to do was clean- please don't tell anyone else."

"Oh I'd never!" Florinda promised.

"In fact, I don't really even care for marrying the prince. I only act like it because Mother wants me to. It's strange. All my life, I felt like I was overpowered. Up until now. I suddenly have a little headache..."

"You know," Ella realized. "We've got a lot in common."

We're both under a curse, she wanted to add on.

"I want to help you with your wish." Florinda shyly stepped forward.

"That will be my new wish: that you get your wish."

"I've never felt this way before," Ella brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"But for the first time, I feel like I have a true sister."

Both girls smiled warmly and entered the kitchen again and finished cleaning- together.