Cinderella Is Dead

by Kalynn Bayron

“If you’re not one of the men who would jump at the first chance to put a woman in her place, then I’m not talking about you.”

“I don’t care about what the king wants,” I say. “Because you’re selfish,” Erin says bluntly. “Because you’ve never once stopped to think that maybe I don’t want to be different. I don’t want to stick out. Accept it.”

Her husband and his friends laugh while the woman smiles one of those fake smiles, all mouth and no eyes. I know the smile, and a little piece of me dies every time I have to use it.

“I’m sorry. I never should have risked going back there, and I don’t want you to feel like I was trying to make a choice between you and Erin. I made that choice before I left. I choose you.”