Wishes

Decisions

The following day, the baker's wife found herself wandering hopelessly in the woods. Her husband was feeling downcast too. He couldn't find any other white cow, so he bought a similar cow and covered it in white flour. I guess it works.

The third and final royal ball was even greater and grander than the first two. As Ella danced with Char in the moonlight, she began to weep. Char saw a tear roll down from under her mask. "Are you well?"

She nodded. "It's just possibly the last time I will be with you."

"That's not true! I-" He looked down at his pocket and carefully pulled out a small box. He opened it up and revealed a tiny ring. It was made of Venetian glass.

Sobbing, Ella covered her mouth and fled. Char jumped up in dismay. "Why do you keep running away?!" he cried. She turned around. "Because you wouldn't like me for who I am." And with that, she ran.

She ran down the stairs. Down, down, down- and then found herself stuck. She glanced down and saw... glue. She looked up and suddenly, all of her surroundings froze. She had to make a decision.

"Well, one thing is for sure," she said aloud. "He's very smart for a prince." She carefully stepped out of her slippers, and found a clean area on the stairs where she could sit.

She looked at her shoes still stuck in the glue. She grabbed one of them and pulled it up. If I married him, I would have all of the freedom of the world! But, then of course... she gasped, My curse could endanger the whole kingdom! If others find out that I can be controlled by anyone, the kingdom could collapse, like it once did. Maybe I should just stay where I am right now. Go back to Madame's where I'll be safe.

Ella put her hand on the other shoe, about to pull it up. She then stopped and realized, Wait! Things don't have to collide! I know my decision: not to decide! I'll just leave him a clue, like... she looked at the slipper in the glue, a shoe! Wow, that surprisingly rhymes.

She let go of the shoe and stood up, just as her surroundings unfroze again. Char saw her and the shoe. She fled. She ran through the woods. Of course, the baker's wife was waiting for her, again. But Ella already knew.

She whipped around, just as the baker's wife emerged. "No, no, no!" she warned her. "We have met before. You're the one who attacked me!" The baker's wife tried to explain, "I didn't attack you. I attacked... your shoe. Oh, just please miss, I need your help!" Ella began to run again.

Finally, the wife blurted out, "I NEED THAT SHOE TO HAVE A CHILD!!"

Ella looked at her remaining shoe. "Well that makes no sense!" But she sat down and took off her slipper. "Ugh, it's hard to keep a mask on all night!" She removed her mask.

"Ella?!" the baker's wife gaped. Ella still didn't recognize her. "How do you know my name?"

"Well, you visited a few days ago to my uh..."

"Bakery!" Ella realized. "Here," she handed over the shoe.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure. Now, I kind of have to go..."

"Yes of course! Thank you!!!"

DING! DING! DING! DING...! Ella ran all the way home. When she entered the house, her dress changed back to rags, and she waited for the others to return. As she sat, a tear rolled down her cheek (she seemed to cry more often now). Though she had to return back to her scullery maid life, she now had the most wonderful memories compared to any other person.

After a good hour or two, she heard Madame's voice and the door slam. She then heard the royal fanfare outside. Ella peeked through the window and saw Char and his guards on horses, galloping towards her house.

He was holding her slipper.