At last Cinderella heard a sound that signaled the end of her magical evening. The clock tower’s cruel chimes echoed through the ballroom, slowly marking the the twelth hour.

Cinderella gasped and pulled away from the prince, “I must go! I have to get home! I’m sorry!â€?

“Wait!” the prince cried frantically, grabbing her hand, “I don’t even know your name!â€?

She fought to keep the tears back as she whispered, “It’s better that way.”

As she rushed down the steps two, then three at a time, one of her glass slippers fell from her foot. Still she rushed onward. Throwing herself into the carriage, she collapsed against the inside wall. Hoof beats sounded before she could sit up and with a wild whinnying the castle faded into the distance. The magic quickly began to undo itself; Cinderella clung to the carriage as everything dissolved beneath her and her gown turned to patched rags once more.

Sprawled out on the ground, Cinderella broke down and sobbed, her tears trickling into the soft, cold earth.