Recognizing Love

Chapter 5: Home

A sense of dread threatened to overcome me as I approached the house I shared with my stepmom and stepsisters. Today was going to get worse than it alredy was.

                                                                              ...

After a long day of cleaning and cooking, I welcomed sleep. However the dream that acompanied it would not have been so welcome.

I felt like a pricess again. I looked down at my body and drank in the sight of the blue fabric, even lifting it slightly to see the glass slippers I knew would be there. I'm at the ball; I better not be seen and not to mention get home before midnight. The ballroom glowed beautifully, and the dancing people seemed to radiate light and joy. The euphoria rose in me. I never wanted to leave.

A tap on my shoulder startled me. All I could think was that I had been seen by my stepmother, but I turned around to see something else altogether. the most beautiful man I had ever seen stood before me, his enchanting dark eyes met mine. He had to be an angel; the straight black hair, the defined cheekbones, all with magnificently full lips could not belong to any human. " Hello my lady. I am Prince Zayn. May I please ask you for this next dance?"

I struggled to find words, finally managing a weak, "Yes,Your Majesty."

A smile lit up his gorgeous face. He led me to the dance floor. We danced for hours. The clocked struck 10 o' clock. Zayn escorted me out to the garden for a stroll. Sparks flew and I began to fall in love. 11 o' clock. We sat in the gazebo, and he talked of his life and family. Then he rose to his feet and stood before me. My heart fluttered as he knelt on one knee. The locked chimed its warning that midnight was approaching. I stood up abrubtly, tears in my eyes, as I told himt that I had to l leave. Apologizing profusely, I began to run,run away from the only thing that brought me joy since my father's passing. To my horror, the prince followed me, calling for me to stop. He was claiming thaat he could help, and that I would never worry again because he would give me anything I wanted. 

On the way into the castle, one of my glass slippers slipped off. No! But I couldn't stop. I ran until I saw the pumpkin carriage. I practically jumped into the cab. As we began to pull away, I made the mistake of turning around. There he was, His Royal Majesty Prince Zayn, chasing after the carriage, my glass slipper in hand,c alling after me. I turned my face from the window, knowing that I would regret this moment for as long as I lived.

I woke up with tears running down my face and my heart shattered from the mere memory of the night I thought I was never to see Zayn again. No place was safe from him; not school, not home, not even my dreams.