The morning after her heartfelt talk with Silvester, Cinderella awoke to a new feeling. Not joy, exactly, but a quiet steadiness. A sense that the tides had finally shifted. Her room was lit with golden morning light streaming through gauzy curtains. The faint hum of traffic outside was a lullaby compared to the storms of her past.
She rolled out of bed slowly, stretching her arms and letting her bare feet sink into the soft rug. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Silvester.
Silvester: "Good morning, sunshine. Let today be a fresh beginning. Coffee later?"
A smile crept across her face. She typed back quickly:
Cinderella: "Only if it comes with that lopsided grin of yours. 11AM?"
She set the phone down and made her way into the bathroom, taking her time in the shower. She washed her hair with rose-scented shampoo, letting the scent fill the air, her mind drifting to the future—not the weight of it, but the thrill of not knowing what came next. She didn't need all the answers. She only needed to take one step at a time.
Later, dressed in a soft olive-green jumpsuit and sneakers, she met Silvester at the cozy café they had both claimed as "theirs". He was already there, seated by the window, two cups on the table, steam rising from one of them.
"You always order for me before I arrive," she teased, slipping into the chair across from him.
He shrugged, grinning. "Habit. Plus, I know what you like."
"So, you think you know me now?"
"Better than anyone," he said with a gentle confidence that made her cheeks warm.
They drank their coffee and talked about everything except the past. It was the first time they had allowed themselves that luxury. They laughed about a movie they'd seen, shared stories from their college days, discussed her upcoming plans to study abroad, and what life would look like in a year.
"I've been thinking," he said after a lull, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup. "We've been through a lot. And I know we've both changed... but I don't want to put things on hold anymore."
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I want us to build something real. Together. Not just something that exists when things are calm, but something that we fight for even when life throws us chaos."
Her heart beat faster. "Silvester..."
"I'm not proposing," he added quickly, though his eyes twinkled. "Not yet. But I want us to move forward. No more half-measures. Let's look for a place together. Let's make space for each other."
Cinderella stared at him, stunned for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Okay."
His brows lifted. "Okay? Just like that?"
"Just like that. Because I want the same thing. I'm tired of being stuck in yesterday. Let's build tomorrow."
---
A week later, they were apartment hunting.
It was more exciting than she expected—not just looking at properties, but imagining a home. Their home. One with mismatched throw pillows she insisted on, and the kind of kitchen Silvester claimed was unnecessary because he barely cooked.
The third apartment they toured was the one. A top-floor loft with tall windows, exposed brick walls, and a cozy nook perfect for her reading chair.
"This is it," she whispered.
He grinned. "You already see where the bookshelf goes, don't you?"
"Next to the window. Obviously."
They signed the lease a week later.
As moving day approached, they divided tasks. Silvester handled the heavy lifting, and Cinderella fussed over color palettes and curtain lengths. Her friends came by to help paint. Desmond even stopped by, bringing pizza and soda, and quietly helping install shelves.
He didn't say much, but when he hugged her on his way out, she saw the glisten in his eyes.
"You're doing good, kiddo."
"Thanks, Dad."
He held her for a long second before letting go.
That evening, as she stood in the center of her new living room, boxes still half-unpacked and her hair tied up in a messy bun, Cinderella realized something powerful:
This was hers. Not given, not borrowed. She had claimed this life.
---
The next few weeks were filled with a mix of excitement and relief.
Cinderella had completed university, walking proudly across the stage to receive her diploma. It was a moment she'd imagined for years, a moment that confirmed how far she had come. No more restrictions, no more painful reminders of her past—just the future waiting to be explored.
Graduation had been a milestone, but she had more to look forward to than just that. She had made plans with her closest friends: Heather, Eloise, Lily, and a few others. It was time for a vacation, a break from everything. The world felt full of possibilities, and they were determined to savor each moment of freedom before they all started their separate journeys.
They had decided to take a trip to the coast. The destination was one of those places where the sea stretched endlessly, and the waves had a calming rhythm. The thought of laying on the beach, chatting with her friends, and feeling the salty breeze on her skin was the perfect way to celebrate the end of an era.
The night before their departure, Cinderella sat on her balcony, her suitcase packed, her phone buzzing with messages from her friends.
"We're all set, right?" Heather texted. "I can't believe it's happening. We're going on vacation!"
"Yes, finally!" Cinderella replied, a smile tugging at her lips. "This is going to be so much fun."
Silvester came by later that evening. They sat together on her couch, talking about their future, about the things they both wanted to do, about how much they had grown.
"I'm going to miss you," he said, his voice soft as he brushed a lock of hair from her face.
"You'll visit," she said with a grin. "You and I both know you can't stay away."
He laughed, shaking his head. "True. But while you're on vacation, I'm going to be thinking about all the adventures you're having without me."
"Then you'll just have to catch up when I get back," she said teasingly.
"I will," he promised. "And when you come back, maybe we can plan the next chapter of our lives. Together."
She smiled, leaning in to kiss him gently. "That sounds perfect."
The next morning, Cinderella met up with Heather, Eloise, Lily, and the others, and they were all buzzing with energy as they piled into the car, heading to their getaway. Laughter filled the air as they sang along to their favorite songs, the excitement building as the coast drew closer.
---
Three days before her flight, Penelope showed up.
It was completely unexpected. Cinderella had just returned from the market, groceries in hand, when she saw Penelope sitting on the steps outside the building.
Penelope looked different—thinner, wearier. The once sharp, flawless image of the girl who had once been so cold toward Cinderella now seemed to be a shell of the person she used to be. She stood slowly as Cinderella approached, a hesitant look on her face.
"What are you doing here?" Cinderella asked, her voice steady but unsure.
"I heard you were leaving soon. I... I just wanted to see you."
Cinderella paused for a moment, her gaze flicking between her former stepsister and the door. "I didn't expect to see you."
Penelope lowered her gaze, twisting her hands nervously. "I know. But I just needed to say something."
Cinderella shifted the grocery bags in her hands. "What's this about?"
"I... I'm sorry, Cinderella. For everything. For the lies. For believing the worst of you. For the way I treated you. I didn't understand then, but I do now. And I'm sorry."
Cinderella took a deep breath, surprised by the sincerity in Penelope's words. She didn't know how to react, but after everything that had happened, part of her wanted to hear this. Still, the words felt like an echo of something that no longer had the power to affect her.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness. I just want you to know that I regret it all," Penelope continued, her voice trembling.
Cinderella nodded slowly. "Thank you for saying that. It's... it's been a long time coming."
Penelope looked up, eyes filled with tears. "Is that all you have to say?"
Cinderella took another moment before responding. "We both made our choices. We both have to live with them. But that doesn't mean I need to allow you back into my life."
The words hung in the air between them, and Penelope's shoulders slumped. "I understand," she whispered.
And with that, Penelope turned and walked away, leaving Cinderella standing there, her heart strangely light, but also strangely heavy at the same time.
---
The day of her flight, Cinderella stood at the door of her apartment, suitcase in hand, and turned back to look at her life, this chapter coming to a close. She was ready. Ready to let go. Ready to see the world with her friends, to experience freedom beyond the walls that had once confined her.
Silvester walk towards her to give her one last hug before she left, and they shared a quiet, loving moment together.
"I'll be here when you get back," he said, smiling warmly.
"Of course. I'll be counting the days."
With a final kiss and a wave, Cinderella stepped out into the world, leaving behind the weight of the past. This vacation was just the beginning of her next adventure.
As the plane took off, she leaned back in her seat, staring out of the window. The world looked so much different now, and she was ready to embrace everything it had to offer.
---
The trip was everything Cinderella could have hoped for and more. She had never felt so alive, so free. They spent their days exploring the coastline, swimming in the clear water, and eating at quaint little cafés. But it wasn't just the adventure that made the trip unforgettable. It was the time she spent with her friends, their laughter, their shared memories, and the sense of peace that filled her every day.
It was more than just a vacation. It was a celebration of the woman she had become. The woman who no longer feared the past but was building a future that was hers to create.
And as she stood at the edge of the water one evening, feeling the cool waves lap at her feet, Cinderella realized something profound. This was her time. The time to be free. To be herself. To build the life she wanted.
The old Cinderella, the one who had been bound by fear, doubt, and pain, was no more. She had emerged stronger, braver, and more capable than ever. She was finally living the life she had always dreamed of. And nothing—no one—could take that from her.