Cinderella

MJJ Imagine No. 29

One morning on my way to work I was stopped at a red light. I looked down at the playlist on my phone and started scrolling through it. When I saw "Cinderella Stay Awhile" by Michael Jackson, a short story started playing itself out in my mind like a film. By the time I reached work, I had the entire story in my head. After months and months of writer's block, it's funny how my brain up and started creating this story just from seeing the words "Cinderella Stay Awhile." I have no explanation for it. This imagine is not like my others where you, the reader, are my main female character. Instead, meet Samantha:

"I don't know if it's true or not, but I like to think of him as a man who has trouble trusting women but who will fall deeply in love with the woman who treats him like the guy next door and who doesn't care that he's a celebrity and has been a world-wide celebrity since childhood. I see him as willing to be vulnerable with this woman even though it scares the heck out of him. I also make the woman extremely trustworthy and someone who will always be there for him, someone who will let him be vulnerable when he needs to be, and someone who will cherish and value his privacy as much as he does."

He looks away and quietly whispers to himself so Samantha doesn't hear, "If only there was such a woman." He stares at the wall across from them.

"Will?" He looks back at her. "I'm sorry. Did I say something to upset you?" He looks back at the wall.

"No. I was just thinking. Sam?" He looks at her. "Actually, is it okay if I call you Sam or do you prefer Samantha?"

"Sam is okay if it's okay that I call you Will instead of William?" He chuckles.

"Will is okay."

"Then Sam it is." He smiles.

"Sam, what makes you think Michael Jackson doesn't trust women?"

What will Samantha's answer to Will's question be? Will Michael Jackson make an appearance and why did I title this short story "Cinderella?"