Cinderella Is Dead

by Kalynn Bayron

But these good men aren’t making the rules. These decent men are turning a blind eye to indecent acts.

“Have you ever heard of a man marrying another man? A woman being in love with another woman? Of people who find their hearts lie somewhere in the middle or with neither?”

She is watching us.

“What’s your name?” “Sophia,” I say. “I’m Constance,” she says.

I'M IN LOVE WITH CONSTANCE

My dear Liv.

I refuse to believe it. She can’t be dead. Not my Liv.

“Are you always so suspicious?” she asks. “Are you always so vague and mysterious?” I ask in return. “I try to be,” she says, smiling gently.

🖤

“The truth is tricky. People want to know it, but when they do, sometimes they wish they didn’t.”

“You’d like my company?” Constance asks. I nod. “I can’t say no to that,” she says softly. “I don’t think we’ll succeed, but who wouldn’t want to be alone in a creepy forest with you?” Constance struts over and stands in front of me. “I’ve had people on my side before but none quite as headstrong as you.” “Is that a good thing?” I ask. She gently nudges my shoulder with hers as she brushes past me and speaks in a hush, very close to my ear. “I guess we’ll find out.”

🤭

“The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into a dark and dangerous place.”

“If my life could serve a purpose,” the woman begins, raising her head a little and looking directly at the king, “then let this be it. I would die to give even just one person the chance to be free from you.”

“As soon as it goes off, we’ll steer the cart straight through.” “As soon as what goes off?” I look again at the little clay container. “The bomb.” She holds the container up, giving it a little shake like I should know what it is. “Did you make that?” I ask. “Of course,” she says flippantly. “My mother taught me.” “My mother taught me how to make bread.” The corner of her mouth turns up. “Well, that has its uses, too.”

“You’ve got everything covered,” I say. “Well, not everything,” she says. “I haven’t figured out how to make you look at me the way you did when I was standing by the fire back at the house. I don’t know that anyone has ever looked at me that way.” She bites her bottom lip as if she’s said too much. My heart speeds up. I guess I’ve been more obvious than I thought. I avoid her gaze. “I doubt that no one has ever looked at you that way. You must know how other people view you.” “I don’t care how I seem to other people,” she says, leaning in very close to me. “But I would very much like to know how you see me.”

“Looks like we’re the same in that way,” Constance says. “Maybe in a few other ways, too.” I almost steer the horse right into the ditch.

😊😊

“At least if something attacks us, we won’t see it coming,” Constance says.

“Give yourself a little more credit. You’re beautiful, brave, and you knew something was wrong in Lille before anyone confirmed it for you.” Again, her candid conversation comforts and intimidates me at the same time. I haven’t missed that she called me beautiful either.

“When the leader of this kingdom treats women as property, it sets an awful precedent. People think it’s okay to do the same.”

Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it can’t be true.”

“I found someone who wanted him gone as much as I did. Someone who might appeal to his lust for beautiful young women, maybe someone he’d already stolen everything from.”

“On that cheery note, I’m going back inside,” says Constance. She runs her hand over the small of my back as she gets up. A warm shudder courses through me. I watch her as she walks toward the front of the cottage. The feeling stays with me in the chilly nighttime air. “I don’t like her one bit,” Amina says. “I like her very much,” I say. I bite my tongue, feeling that familiar stab of shame. I hate that I still feel this way even this far from Lille. “Obviously.”

“My dear Sophia,

“Nudity is optional,” says Amina. “But from what I can tell, we all have the same bits and pieces. And even if you don’t, there’s nothing to be ashamed of, dearie. I’ve seen my fair share of tallywhackers as well.”

Det här är varmt 😊

“I’ll go first,” says Amina. Amina disrobes without a second thought and strides into the water. Constance slowly turns to me, covering her eyes with her hands. “I was right, Amina,” Constance says. “There is nothing in these woods scarier than you.” I can’t hold it in this time. My laugh rings out like a bell in the stillness. “Hush,” Amina croaks.

Hehe

“You don’t have to be special or have a gift or anything of the sort. Some people think they are chosen, destined to be great, and do you know what happens while they are basking in the possibility of their own greatness?” “I don’t know,” I say. She narrows her eyes at me. “What happens is that someone with no particular preordained purpose puts their head down, works hard, and makes something happen out of sheer will. That’s where we fall.”

“I think we sometimes make the mistake of thinking monsters are abhorrent aberrations, lurking in the darkest recesses, when the truth is far more disturbing. The most monstrous of men are those who sit in plain sight, daring you to challenge them.

It’s as if repeating the lie over and over makes it true.

“Maybe don’t try to stab every man you see,” Amina shoots back. Constance looks to me and shrugs. “It’s a habit.”

This is her gilded cage, her pretty prison.

He opens his mouth wide and presses his lips over mine. I scream but the sound is muffled. I taste his rancid breath and feel his damp skin, his fingers like knives at my back. Then, everything becomes still. A light hovers between us, a cloud of translucent fog that seems to be coming out of me. I can’t move, can’t speak.

🤢

I am left just as I am, and after all this time, I know it is enough.

Look at your children, your friends, your wives, and your daughters. Don’t do what is right because they hold those titles. Do what is right because they are people. Make a choice to change things.”