The shoe

didn’t fit.

 

The disappointed woman

trudged away,

sulking, and

disappearing into the

circle of curious townsfolk

surrounding the prince.

 

The prince

let out

the tiniest sigh of

relief.

(He didn’t like her that much anyway.)

 

Holding a

single

glass

slipper,

he was surrounded by

eyes.

 

Some wide,

some squinted,

most just...

curious.

 

Who would fit the shoe??

 

Hours passed.

 

The sun

sailed overhead.

Woman

after woman

tried on the

single

glass

slipper.

 

...No one fit the shoe.

 

The sun was setting,

completing its

day long journey

at last.

 

As the

single

glass

slipper

glimmered in the

orange light

of the tangerine sunset,

the circle dispersed.

 

Everyone was gone.

 

The prince was

alone.

 

Except…

for one.

 

The prince looked up,

slightly shocked, as

one last person

walked toward him.

 

A boy stood

before the prince,

with kind eyes

and

a small,

s h a k y,

smile.

(He was a little bit nervous.)

 

The prince, puzzled,

held out the

single

glass

slipper.

 

The boy

offered his foot.

 

…

 

He fit the shoe.