I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed with fear. “Who?” I repeated cautiously. My heart thumped like a gong inside my chest.

“Me,” the voice replied calmly. A tiny light flicked on inside the pitch-black of my room—someone had lit a match.

“Now where was that...I’m sure I left it in this pocket…” the voice muttered. I could heart clanking and rustling, like the owner of that voice was searching through something.

“Ah, here it is,” the voice announced. The burst of light that was the match moved through the air, and—everything was suddenly lit by an old-fashioned gas lamp.

A plump, kind-faced old lady was smiling fondly at me. “Ah, hello, Destiny dear,” she greeted me cheerfully.

“Who are you?” I gasped.

“Why, don’t you remember me?” she demanded, placing her hands on her hips indignantly. “I’m your Fairy Godmother!”