#3
Some time later, Hailey was invited to the prince’s party just like in the fairy tale. She lost her glass shoe at the palace while trying to leave in a hurry before midnight just like in the fairy tale.
Several days passed, and the prince visited every house with a glass shoe, looking for the owner of the shoe. At last, the prince came to Hailey’s house. Although there were hindrances of the stepmom and her older sisters, Hailey was able to show the other glass shoe and became the prince’s bride. Now, Hailey will really live happily ever after, right?
Hailey got herself ready to become a princess, imagining wearing a new dress every day, and eating delicious food. But her joy didn’t last long. Her pretty face in the mirror started looking lonely.
One day, Hailey went out to the street to soothe herself. Clean and clear sky, shiny lake, trees along the lake . . . Many people were out on a picnic with their families on the grass. Wherever Hailey looked, there were people laughing happily. It was right then!
“Tommy! Tommy!”
Someone’s earnest voice seeking her child caught Hailey’s attention. A young woman whose face was covered with tears was urgently seeking her child.
‘Mom?’
Hailey couldn’t keep her eyes off the young woman who looked just like her mom.
‘She’s definitely Mom . . .’
An old man who was fixing shoes near the lake looked at the young woman, feeling bad for her.
“Tsk, tsk, she hasn’t found him yet. She’s been looking for her child for hours . . .”
Right at that moment, a little boy came running, hearing his mom’s voice. Hailey was very surprised when she saw the boy’s face. The boy had a burnt mark on his face.
“Mom!”
“Tommy!”
The young woman hugged her child, and shed tears of joy.
“Tommy, where were you? Mommy looked everywhere to find you . . .”
“I’m sorry, Mom. There were so many interesting things. Looking around here and there, I didn’t even know that I’d lost you.”
“It’s okay. You are back now!”
‘‘The young woman went back home, holding the child’s hand tightly. Hailey just stood there, watching them. Hailey didn’t think about her mom who must be spending every day with tears, desperately looking for her who suddenly disappeared. She forgot about her mom who can’t be happy even for one day without her.
‘Mom must be looking for me with tears like that . . .’
Hailey came back home and started feeling sick. She was so sick that she couldn’t even get out of her bed.
One day, when she had been in her bed for several days, the angel appeared to Hailey again.
“Hailey?”
Hailey opened her eyes to the bright light, and burst into tears, seeing the angel.
“Angel, please take me to my mom! She must be looking for me. No, I mean, I really miss her.”
“You became Cinderella as you wished. Aren’t you happy? As you dreamed, you’ve become pretty and you will live in the splendid palace in beautiful dresses, eating all kinds of delicious food.”
That’s what Hailey had been dreaming of. But she couldn’t find happiness anywhere.
“If you go back to before, you will still have the burnt mark on your face, and kids might make fun of you. Is that still okay?”
Hailey answered without hesitation.
“Yes! I don’t care about those things!”
The angel smiled and spread her silver wings wide open with a smile on her face. Silver powder sat on Hailey’s head.
#4
Hailey opened her eyes. Colorful wallpaper, small desk, soft bed . . . She was laying on the bed in her room.
“Wow! I’m back!”
Hailey ran out to the living room.
“Mom, Mom! You’ve been looking for me, right?”
Hailey’s mom was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. She looked at her in surprise.
“Do you know how many times I called you to come and eat breakfast? (Laughter)”
“Huh?”
Hailey stared at her mom for a little while, and then smiled big.
“Ah, it was a dream!”
“Princess, come and eat!”
Mom called Hailey in a kind voice.
“Mom, I don’t want to be a princess anymore.”
“How come? You really wanted to be a princess.”
Hailey answered with a serious face.
“Being pretty doesn’t last long. Cinderella and Snow White . . . they were all persecuted because they didn’t have moms. I don’t think I will be happy even if I become princess if I’m not with you.”
“I see. That makes Mommy so happy.”
“Instead, I will become your princess, a princess who’s pretty in your eyes!”
Hailey’s mom gave her a big hug. Hailey in her mom’s arms felt happier than any of the princesses in the fairy tale.
