under the stars

Once Upon A Nightmare

"Once Upon A Time...Blah...blah...Blah.,"

"Flo, you promised!" The little girl shot up from bed, pouting.

"It's hardly my fault you like rubbish books." Florence looked down on her younger sister. She was bundled in her princess comforter, wearing her favourite pyjamas. Cinderella, naturally.

"It's Cinderella, it's not rubbish. You're rubbish." April fell back into her pillows, arms covering her eyes. "It's romantic!"

Florence slammed the book closed, "Oh my, I don't think Cinderella would approve of this attitude." She gasped. "Romance is boring. Sorry not sorry."

"You're just bitter you can't find a boyfriend." April laughed, Florence smiled. There was nothing but love between the two of them.

"I don't need a boyfriend," Florence waved her hands. "Now you need to get some sleep." 

April pulled her best 'pretty-please-look' 

Florence sighed. "Fine. Lay down. Close your eyes."

Quick as a flash, April had her duvet pulled up just below her eyes. 

Florence began to tell the story, "Once upon a time, a wealthy merchant lived with his little girl. He dearly loved the girl for her beautiful face and her nice heart. But after his wife passed away, he decided to marry a second time. In the beginning, his new wife pretended to care for Cinderella, only when the merchant passed away did his new wife show her true colours. His new wife was self-centred and unkind. She had two daughters of her own who were alike her in kind. The stepmother forced her stepdaughter to clean the pans and pots, scrub the floors, and tend the fireplace." Glancing over to her sister, she could see her little smile through her drooping eyes. 

Really, it was just the two of them. Their father worked constantly, not that he needed to. They were comfortable; yet it seemed he'd rather spend his time out on business trips than with his two daughters. Florence had taken responsibility of April when their mother died, nearly 4 years ago when Flo was 15 and April all but 5. 

Snoring caught Flo's attention, April was flat out asleep. Smiling to herself, she softly closes the book. April deserved better, but Flo was determined to save her childhood in the way hers wasn't. 

She heard the door open downstairs and groaned. She does love her Dad, but by the gods was he hard work. After one last glance at April, she turned off the light and started down the stairs. The empty walls, once adorned with family photos, put a dull on Flo as shew greeted her father. 

"It's awfully quiet" In his prime, her father was a handsome man. His once jet black hair is now a steely grey, and it's almost like he shrunk a few inches. his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, anymore. the death of her mother aged him a lot.  "Where's April?"

"it's 9 o'clock, Dad. She's asleep." Flo sighed. "You said you'd be home by 5."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Time must have gotten away from me." He did look sorry, but it was still the same sorry excuse he always uses. "tell me, how was your day?" 

"Same as always, Dad." She couldn't help but notice he'd finally taken off his wedding band. Noted. 

"Really? you really ought to get out there again, sweetie" He was speaking to her, but looking down at his phone. Typical. "How long has it been since Henry dumped you? 3 years now, isn't it?" 

Florence glared down at him. "Excuse me!" She gasped. It may have been 3 years ago, but the feelings were till raw like it happened only yesterday. she swore off men after that. He broke her heart and ran off to play in some stupid band. "You have no right to bring him up." 

He rolled his eyes at her. "I'm just saying-"

"Well don't just say." She cut him off. "You have no leg to stand on." 

"Well actually...about that." He looked awfully nervous, it almost made her feel bad. Almost. "I've met someone."

The day has arrived. She knew it would. Gods, how was April going to take this. Even though she never really got to know mum, it still hurts her just the same. She knows it's not normal to be raised by a sister. And now the dreaded step-mum. 9 years. How could he replace mum, even look at another woman that way. Florence knew this wasn't rational, that it's not fair to make him mourn forever; but that doesn't make it any easier. 

"So you have time for another woman," Florence raised an eyebrow at him. "But you can't get home in time to put your daughter to bed. That's interesting." 

"Don't be unfair now, Flo. I know this is upsetting, but I'm going to change and be around again for April. I promise. It's wasn't right of me to leave it all to you. It's just that after your mum died I suddenly realised I had no idea what I was doing. And I'm sorry for that, I've been a lousy father to you both." he rambled. "She really is a lovely woman. She's widowed, too. And she has two young daughters of her own." 

This can't be good. Could this have been foreshadowing?

Once Upon A Nightmare would be the beginning of her story.