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Sincerely,

Whitney G.

One day I will go to all the places I have seen

Between the pages of my reads

And when you ask me where I’ve been

You’ll be convinced it’s all a dream…

—My mother’s lullaby to me

Once Upon a Time

Belle

I’ve always known that I am the biggest disappointment in my family.

Since the day I was born, my father made it painstakingly clear that my older sister Isabelle, “the better Belle,” is his golden child.

I’m an unwanted copper tin that he can’t wait to throw away, the “ugly rubbish” that he keeps hidden from sight as often as possible.

Only a few people in our village even know that I exist…

On countless nights, I’ve awoken to the sound of his vicious prayers, wondering if he knew I could hear them. Then again, I doubt that he cares, and I have them all memorized by now anyway.

“Please change Belle into someone else, so she can land a suitor who will help pull us out of our debt.”

“Why couldn’t you drag her to heaven instead of her mother?”

“Can you at least teach her how to read books as well as Izzie, so the town library might have a job for her when I die?”

I can’t help but see the irony in his last prayer since my sister is a living, breathing fraud, but that’s a story for another day.

“This is your last chance to prove your worth to this family, Belle.” He suddenly steps in front of my bed, holding out a bright red ribbon.

“If this prince’s glass slipper doesn’t fit your foot today, there’s no shame in that, but if it does and you even try to resist, I swear on everything I own that—”

“You’ll punish me by locking me in the basement until I’m forgiven.”

“I’ll never forgive you.” He snaps his fingers. “Izzie! Come help Belle with her hair and face, please!”

Stifling a groan, I walk over to the window and watch heavy sheets of rain attack our land. I silently wish the hills would rise and roll over our cottage so I won’t have to take part in this.

Every woman in town is buzzing with glee over the day’s big news: A prince from the Second Kingdom is crossing through The Whispering Woods in search of his lost love via a “Which maiden’s foot can fit the slipper she left behind?” contest.

I desperately want to know why he can’t remember what this woman looks like and attempt to find her that way, but no one else seems to find this odd.