Happily Ever After

Once upon a time,

Is how it begins.

But this is not the story you know.

                  * * *

El is a girl who loved her father,

And when he died,

She was racked with guilt.

She asked invisible gods

Why is she alive,

And he dead?

                  * * *

On a dark and solemn night,

El heard a *tap *tap *tap

On her door.

She inched the heavy oak open

To find an ancient woman

Stooped on her porch.

“Excuse me dearie.

Do you have a room to spare?”

She asked in a hair-raising whisper.

El looked around,

Heard the wind whip and howl,

And she brought the old crone inside.

                    * * *

“I did not come here by accident”

… “I’m sorry?” El uttered

The woman watched her with blank eyes

“I am not here by accident.

This is your fate.”

El had a chill run up her back.

                * * *

She stared in wonder,

Her gloomy world turned topsy-turvy

Right before her eyes.

“Now you must be back by midnight,

Or you will suffer dire consequences”

The woman croaked.

And before she knew it,

El was flying through town

In a jeweled pumpkin!

               * * *

As she floated down the castle steps,

All eyes were on her…

Including the Prince’s.

The guests were all intrigued.

Who was this girl in the fine silk

With hair like spun gold?

She reached the bottom,

The Prince took her by the hand,

And they waltzed.

               * * *

At midnight,

The clock struck three times.

El was nowhere to be found.

                * * *

The townspeople and Prince searched and searched,

But all that was recovered,

Was a glass slipper.