Bitter Hearts: A Dark Cinderella Retelling

Seventeen

The Beginning

     Over the years Cedric's sickness had gotten progressively worse, he was nothing but dull skin and bones now. He was dying and everyone knew it.

Mia was ten at this time and the twins nine. It was a hard time for the family and it was difficult to have hope when everyone kept commenting on what little time he had left and how he was such a good and generous soul.

It was the only time that Mia and her sisters seemed to get along. Their fear of losing their father binding them together. Even Duvessa had calmed down with maltreating Mia and walked around the house with a permanent sad face.

It was in the wee hours of the morning when Duvessa woke up the girls per Cedric's command. They gathered in Cedric's room to say their last goodbyes. The air was heavy and you could literally feel the presence of death in the room. It was cold.

The twins sat on both sides of their father with Duvessa on her knees by his feet and Mia at a far corner, tears and mucous were running down their faces but none of them cared, they were about to lose a man they all loved. He wasn't perfect but they loved him regardless.

Duvessa and the twins said their goodbye's to Cedric and he to them. It was Mia's turn now and he had asked his wife and other children to leave the room. The hurt on their faces was something he didn't see but Mia did and her heart dropped. She knew somehow that she was going to pay for this.

Cedric waited till they were all gone before he stretched his hand towards her. Mia moved to sit by his Tuareg mat and held his frail hands in hers.

"Mia," he began.

"Pa"

"I love you so very much my child and I'm proud of you and even though I will be gone to be with the ancestors, I want you to know that I will always be with you wherever you go," he said tears in his eyes.

"Thank you papa," she whispered.

"I'm afraid my child," he said suddenly.

"To go?" Mia asked him.

"Yes my child, who will protect you when I'm gone?" he asked with sad eyes

"You will papa, you will watch over me, won't you?" She asked with round innocent eyes.

"Your mother would have been so proud of you," Cedric said staring at his daughter.

"How was mama like?" she asked, this was the first time her father was speaking about her real mother to her.

"She was perfect," Cedric said, a smile on his face.

"Really?"

"Yes really, she was smart and beautiful and kind. She was my betrothed, given out in marriage to me by the King and I loved her from the very first moment I saw her. You look just like her." Cedric said a small smile on his face.

"I do?"

"Yes my child," he answered.

"You will be great my child," he said his eyes dropping closed.

"You will be great Mia Manchu." he said finally, his eyes closing for the last time, his hand in hers going limp.

An ear piercing scream was all Mia could hear as the tears were rushing out of her eyes. She was the one screaming.

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