Sinderella

Chapter Twelve: Cinderella And The Orphans

Katreena and Cinderella stood in the middle of the main hall hugging for a long time. Thankfully, there were no guests in the main hall to watch them.

"I have heard so much about your time here." Katreena said pulling away from Cinderella.

Cinderella was careful not to let Katreena's compliment go to her head. She did not want to relapse and undo the work she had done on her attitude. Cinderella did not want to turn back into the selfish young woman she was before she moved out of Katreena's house.

"You have changed." Katreena said, Cinderella still not letting Katreena's compliments get to her head. "I do not recognize you, you are not the selfish young woman who moved out of my house a while ago."

Katreena had to be honest to Cinderella, she doubted that Cinderella could change, but she did not think Cinderella was too far gone. Cinderella tells her that she had met her birth mother that previous night.

"I am so glad you were able to meet her." Katreena said. "And I am so glad she was able to meet you. Are you going to be seeing more of her?"

"No," Cinderella replied "she left early this morning. She told my boss that she felt too guilty from leaving me behind that she could not bear to stay anymore. She could not even bear to say goodbye, again. I do not know if I will ever see her again."

Katreena sat down in the main hall and Cinderella poured them both a cup of tea. Cinderella sat down and drank the tea with Katreena.

"How has life been at home?" Cinderella asked.

"Quiet." Katreena said. "Emmelina was accepted into a university in Orden, so she moved there last week to begin her classes. Sabelina is still living at home and thinking about what she wants to do. She thinks she wants to go to university but she also wants to learn a trade. She is still thinking about it."

"Do they miss me?" Cinderella asked, partly expecting her sisters to have not even shed a tear when Cinderella moved out.

"Everyday." Katreena replied. "They miss their little sister every day. Emmelina wanted to come to this inn to see you, but when she came, you were not here. Sabelina misses you, but is still trying to forgive you. She still loves you, but wants to remain true to her conscience. You hurt her pretty bad."

"And I have apologized." Cinderella said.

"Right," Katreena said "you have done your part, you have apologized. Now, the next step is hers to take. Do not worry about Sabelina, she now has a deal between her and God alone. She will forgive you in time. Let me ask you this, have you forgiven yourself?"

Cinderella could not speak. She had never thought about forgiving herself. She did not think that she had to.

"No." Cinderella said. "I have not. I have never actually thought of doing that. Do I have to forgive myself?"

"You need to forgive yourself so that you can move on." Katreena said. "Put the past in the past where it belongs and leave it there. The only way to grow is to learn from our mistakes, but to do that, we do not need to dwell on them all the time."

Cinderella thanked Katreena for her visit, and insisted that she had to get back to work. So, Katreena gave Cinderella one last hug before leaving the inn to return home.

The weeks went on and Cinderella continued to save her earnings to buy a small house to live in. She had her eyes set on a small cottage, which only cost a few hundred coins. She was almost to the point where she could make a down payment on the house, but needed to work a few extra weeks before she felt confident making a down payment. She wanted to make sure she had enough money to make a down payment, as well as having enough money to live on. She did not need to move into her house while broke.