Note: This is actually the first short story I ever wrote. The one year I've been writing has been on my first novel (which shall never be seen by human eyes), and I thought it was time to start on shorter projects.

Achromatic Time

Time. Time has stopped for me a long time ago.

I know, I know none of this is real, but reality is just another dream.

In the darkness, everything becomes black and white. For me, my world will never be in color, even under the brilliant sun.

u-o-u

“She’s so young. She shouldn’t have to go through this.”

“What’s that father doing at a time like this?”

“Poor man, just lost his wife and now his daughter is like this . . .”

“Oh, I wouldn’t feel so sorry for him, I heard there was another woman.”

“You’re not serious!”

“Hush. They’re coming over here. Look, the girl’s not even crying!”

“What’s wrong with her? Doesn’t she have a heart?”

u-o-u

“Daddy,” Celia placed the wood blocks one on top of another, the soft clicks causing the silence to tremble. Her voice was soft and raspy, her distant eyes staring blankly at the blocks.

“Yes, sweetheart?” her father answered weakly. His voice was husky and tired, very tired. The man was no older than forty, but his forehead was already engraved with deep lines, and his light eyes were a sad gray. He suppressed a sigh and smiled, a pitiful smile. He smiled, because there wasn’t anything else to do, because if he didn’t smile he might break apart, because if he didn’t smile, he would have to face the truth. Celia paid no attention to it.

“Today is mommy’s birthday, isn’t it?” Celia asked, her back to her father.

“No, no it isn’t,” the man answered after a long period of silence.

“Okay daddy, I want to throw mommy a giant party with pretty flowers. We’ll ask all of mommy’s friends to come, and mommy will make brownies for us, she makes the tastiest brownies in the world.”

“H-honey, we can’t throw a party.”

“Why not?”

“Well . . . because mommy is . . . because . . . because it’s not mommy’s birthday,” the man clutched onto the wood block in his hand tightly, the sharp corners digging into his flesh.

“Oh, I know! We can have cake, sing songs, and maybe we can go swimming! Mommy loves to go swimming! Oh, but we can’t eat cakes at the beach . . .” Celia continued to stack her blocks, as if her father had never spoken.

“Celia . . .” her father’s face was distorted as he pressed his lips tightly. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but was interrupted as the door swung open. The noise and aroma of the house poured in, swallowing and infecting all who inhabited the small room, shattering the heavy atmosphere.

“What are you guys talking about now?” a woman wearing denim overalls and a clean apron stepped into the room, her face full of youth and brightness. Her bright hair framed her small, freckled face in a bob, and her light eyes were shining like gems. Her voice tone was clear and playful, her presence filling the room with flowers and birdsongs. She smiled, a wide, cheery smile, and lowered herself to join her husband in a squat. She exchanged glances with the man, but matched her husband’s exasperated expression with a grin.

“Celia, you shouldn’t sit around all day playing with blocks; let’s have some fun! You’re fourteen, you’re adorable; you should dress up and go out with me more often!” The woman paused, but prodded on as she realized an answer was not to be expected. “It’s okay, why don’t we start with your room? Its still got the decorations from when you’re a child! Look, that wallpaper is already peeling off, and is that a spider-web I see? This room is in such a gloomy color. See, the white is already turning yellow. All the windows are covered with those ugly curtains, take them away and let in some light! Why not repaint the walls into some happy colors, like red or orange?” the woman’s ecstatic voice filled the whole room, it rang irritatingly, like the chirp of a squirrel.

Celia didn’t respond. Her hand was stiff, frozen in the same position as the moment the woman came in. Slowly, she lowered her arm until the wood block she held onto touched the floor, then she made no further movement to straighten her arm. Her head was bent and her empty blue eyes stared straight ahead, focused on the tower of blocks, like plastic marbles.

“Celia, I heard you liked fairytales,” the woman refused to give up, “your dad told me that your favorite character was Cinderella, then maybe we can buy Cinderella wallpaper! Why don’t we replace these old furniture too; that bed is probably way too small for you now, isn’t it from when you were only six?” the woman stood up and practically skipped toward the little bed at the corner of the room, the smile still painted on her face.

“Celia, say something, mommy is trying so hard,” her father’s raspy voice came in an exasperated whisper.

“Get out,” the command was strong but quiet, like a muffled bell struggling to chime.

“W . . . what? Did you say something Celia?”

“Get out!” the wood blocks scattered to the floor, darting across the room and ricocheting off the walls with force. Celia was standing, her chest heaving up and down and her face flushed.

“Celia, that’s very rude, mommy was just trying to help –”

“Get the hell out of this room you ugly bitch!”

“Celia! Where in the world did you learn to talk like that? You cannot talk to your mother that way!” her father stood up as well, his full height towering over Celia, but not the least bit intimidating.

“She’s not my mother! She’s just some whore you were fucking around with, and now you’re trying to replace mom with!”

There was a loud sound as the woman’s hand made contact with Celia’s face. The flowers were ripped from their stems, and the birdsongs contorted into earsplitting croaks. All that remained was a suffocating silence. The atmosphere was tense, the stretch of an elastic band before it snaps. The woman looked down at Celia, her expression a mixture of anger and uncertainty. Celia stared back up at the woman defiantly, as still and silent as the blocks lying by her feet.

“Die,” her mouth opened and closed slowly as the word rolled off of her tongue silently.

“Why must you be so difficult? Your mother died eight years ago, why can’t you just get over it? Your father and I are trying so hard to make your life the same again, stop being such a brat!” the smile was replaced with an ugly snarl, her eyes widened monstrously.

Celia’s lips were still, then suddenly, she turned her back to the woman, walking away from her as if she had never said a word. Celia slowly bent down and straightened a block on the floor. She straightened and walked toward another block, picking it up.

“Listen to me young lady, I’m your mother now, and all I want is to help you,” the woman’s voice softened, and the patronizing smile crept back. She sighed when Celia stopped moving once again, “Celia, mommy will pretend you didn’t say anything, now be a good girl and come out of this room; we’ll eat brownies together, you like brownies don’t you?” her voice was soft and kind, yet very hesitant.

Celia screamed, the shriek of a desperate child. The woman ducked and shielded her head, a yelp followed as a wooden cube slammed into her arm.

“Get out, get out, get out! I want you to die; I want you to rot in hell!” Celia screamed at the top of her lungs, a silver bell shattering, exploding.

Her father quickly shielded the woman, who was crying and cradling her injured arm. He ushered the woman out of the room, and threw Celia a sickened look before slamming the door shut.

Celia stood alone in the middle of her room. It was a room isolated from the rest of the house, stuck in the vortex of the past and the claws of the present. She laughed, a happy chirp, the first time she’s laughed in eight years. “Mommy, did you know that daddy has been brainwashed by this tramp?”

u-o-u

“Where are you taking me?” Celia shrieked as two muscled men in white dragged her out of her room, her shelter, her sanctuary, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Celia, honey, this is for your own good,” her father said in a flat voice as he held the door open for the men. His eyes were emotionless, but the usual tired smile adorned his worn face. The woman stood by his side, hugging her bandaged arm, refusing to match Celia’s gaze. Celia stared up at her father, suddenly, she felt something within her sink. Her struggles died and her eyes became empty as her gaze slowly wandered to the figure standing beside him. She smiled and shook her head, her smile soon exploding into a laugh. The woman whipped around and stared at the girl in disbelief, but Celia didn’t return the favor. She stared as the men continued to drag the small figure out the door and toward an ambulance that waited outside.

“How’s your arm?” Celia shouted, a crazed smile on her face, before her wide blue eyes vanished behind closed doors of the van. The woman fell to her knees and sobbed as the vehicle pulled away from the curb and disappeared around the corner.

u-o-u

“Mom, please get me out of this place. It’s so dark; I’m so alone. They took away everything, everything that you made for me. They made me leave my room, the room you and I loved, the only room where I belonged in. I’m tired, really tired. I don’t blame daddy, not at all, just let me out! I don’t want any of this. Please save me, don’t make me stay in this white, endless hell. It’s dragging me down; I’m sinking, sinking. I can’t find my way back, there are no colors anywhere, it’s even worse than before. Everything’s so sad, so dark . . . I need you, please. Even if you can’t come back, send someone, something; rescue me with your magic. I can’t take it, I can’t take it anymore! I’m trapped in this wretched place, in this world, this time. Save me, save me, please, please, save me, save me, save me . . .”

u-o-u

“Here she is, the girl you’re going to be spending time with for the next four weeks. She’s been here for more than two years, her parents visit her every once in a while, but she’s shown no signs of improvement. Be a little careful, she’s placed in the restricted area because she’s had a history of violence; it might get dangerous.” the nurse lead a young man, around the decline of eighteen, down a long, endless hallway. The repeating white walls, metal doors with bars, and the heavy stench of despair surrounded the cheerful young man, pulling at him, attempting to drown him, but the boy didn’t notice. They stopped in front of one of the cells. It was a white metal door with bars, same as all the rest, another opening in this white illusion. The nurse inserted the key into a hole in the door and twisted it, a soft click was the response.

“I’ll be okay,” he smiled, a charming smile, just as his name says. The nurse pushed open the door slowly, and finally allowed Charm to move past her large frame after she made sure the patient was stable. Charm peeked into the small, dark room. The light from the hallway poured into the isolated room, scattering the deathly silence and creating one long band of light that split the darkness in half. There was a small barred window for ventilation and light, but it was covered with what appeared to be a dried up mush of food. A lone lightbulb dangled lifelessly from the ceiling, failing to shine.

“Alright, good luck. Scream if you need any help,” the nurse stepped out of the room, but Charm made no attempt to answer as the giant white door slammed shut, and the room sank into darkness once again.

“Anyone in here?” Charm questioned, but he was answered by an echo. “I’m going to turn on the light, okay?” still, the only response he received was silence. Charm slowly walked along the wall, feeling for the light switch. He flicked it on with one finger, almost eagerly. The room took on a sepia tint as the lightbulb flickered on with difficulty. Charm let out his breath and turned around, scanning the room for any signs of life.

In a corner of the room was a small cot with white sheets, stained yellow by the dim light. A lone figure sat on the edge of the bed, still and silent, her hands resting on her lap. It was a girl with a fragile figure, brilliant golden hair that sparkled even in the dim light, and spotless fair skin. She looked just like a porcelain doll, with her crystal blue eyes staring up at him lifelessly, unaffected by the sudden change of lighting. Her soft pink lips were curled in a plastic smile that was glued to her face.

“Hey, my name is Charm, I’m here to read to you and keep you company. I hope you don’t mind that I turned on the light,” Charm smiled, a bright smile, not the paper grin that is easily peeled away. His voice wasn’t noisy at all, instead, it was soft and soothing. It was like a low melody of a flute, each note full and beautiful, yet fading without a trace. Still, no response followed. The girl stared up at him, smiling, lifeless.

“Do you have a name?” Charm refused to give up. He walked toward the girl, completely unarmed. The girl blinked, the first time he saw her blink. She almost came alive as intelligence returned to her pastel blue eyes, and her plastic smile waved. She parted her lips, as if to speak, but no sound came out. Charm smiled, she’s alive, it was progress. He dropped his books to the floor and sat down on the cot next to her. To his surprise, the girl flinched. Her whole body spontaneously jerked alive as she scooted away from him until her back was tightly pressed against the cold white wall, shivering like a hurt animal. Her eyes darted around the room nervously, and she suddenly buried her face in her arms.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“It . . . it’s black and white; there’s still no color, even in the light. I don’t want to see it, I don’t want to be convinced,” her voice was soft and slightly raspy, like a bird with its throat torn out, but still trying desperately to sing.

“It’s black and white?” Charm blinked in confusion, then smiled in understanding, “yes, this room is plain isn’t it? It’s sad, like a prison, I already feel trapped, just sitting here.”

“Yes, it’s a trap, a black hole, I can’t get out,” her voice was fragile, haunting.

Charm extended his hand toward the girl, his kind eyes reaching for her. He felt more entrapped by her flowing hair. It was brilliant, and he couldn’t stop staring. It was colorful, brightening up the cruel blankness of the cell, filling his vision with gold. It was a pity how beautiful some of these patients were.

“Come out of that corner and let’s have a talk. Why don’t you tell me your name?”

The girl stared up at him, her eyes were sad, distant, but hope and radiance was hidden in the depth of them, like fog hovering over a clear lake. She reached one pale hand forward, her skinny fingers tickling his large palm, the coldness of her touch numbing him. The girl suddenly wrapped her fingers around his hand and squeezed it tight, refusing to let go, but made no movement out of the corner. Charm didn’t complain, and allowed the girl hold onto his hand, letting the warmth of his palm dissolve the iciness of hers.

“Celia,” she whispered.

“Is that your name? It’s beautiful,” Charm nodded in acknowledgment, and petted Celia’s head, sliding his free hand over her golden hair, as if grooming a dog. The girl didn’t protest, but sat very still, staring at the pile of books that were on the floor. “How old are you?”

Celia did not answer. She kept her gaze fixed, as if in deep thought. Finally, she whispered with hesitance, “Six.”

Charm frowned. It was impossible for the girl to be only six years old; she was practically a grown woman. He paused, not knowing whether to dig further, or just let her be. Patients can become very unstable if they’re forced to face the facts.

“No, that’s not right. I’m not six, I’m seven, because I just turned seven,” Celia spoke again, her eyes never moving.

“When is your birthday?”

“Mommy’s birthday.” there was no hesitance.

“Well . . . what a nice coincidence. When is your mother’s birthday?”

“Today.”

“Today? So it’s your birthday today too?”

“Yeah, and yesterday, but nobody would listen to me when I told them it was my birthday,” Celia became more cheerful and her voice more confident, but her empty eyes still stared at the books with no intentions of moving.

“R . . . really? What exactly is this . . . birthday?”

“Mommy’s birthday was the day when mommy was born again. I was really happy on mommy’s birthday, because mommy came back as a fairy, just like the fairy god-mommy in Cinderella, and she told me everything was going to be okay. That was mommy’s first birthday, but everyone else was crying and really quiet. Everything was white and black; it was so ugly and boring; I hated it. I tried to make daddy celebrate mommy’s birthday, but daddy didn’t want to, and said it wasn’t mommy’s birthday. But I know it is, because mommy’s friends always gathered and they would bring flowers to her new house, which daddy never allowed me to visit. Daddy doesn’t see mommy anymore because the evil witch cast a spell on him,” Celia’s tone was serious, but her pose remained unchanged. Charm clicked his tongue; it was a bizarre story. He decided it was in his best interest not to pry any further, and changed the subject.

“So, you like Cinderella?”

“Yes, I love it, it’s my favorite story, mommy read it to me all the time.”

“Great, I think I have fairytales in one of my books here, would you like me to read you the story?” Charm bent down to shuffle through his books. He reminded himself to smile and told himself that this was all for college, and as long as he can get a scholarship, anything was far better than ending up as homeless or a nutcase himself.

There was no response from Celia, but she didn’t pull her hands away from his. Charm found the book and sat up again, glancing over at her.

“You didn’t go away?” she asked, her voice full of sadness. Charm noticed that her gaze had finally shifted, and now focused on their linked hands. “Whenever I told people the story of mommy, they would always smile; I don’t see the point in them smiling and being kind to me, since they would always lie to me, then go away and never come back. Even daddy, even daddy doesn’t love me anymore. He only stays around because I refuse to move; everybody lies to me.”

“Why would I go away?” Charm laughed, patting Celia on the head, “I’m sure your father loves you very much, and he would never lie to you.”

Celia looked up, her gaze capturing his for the first time. She stared at him with a questioning expression on her face. Charm clenched his jaw and didn’t look away. After what felt like forever, Celia smiled, a toothy, crescent-eyed smile; a childish smile for a sixteen-year-old, but the first time in ten years her eyes smiled as well. This was the most ridiculous lie she’s been told in years, but surprisingly, she believed him. Celia clung onto Charm’s hand, and sat by his side as he flipped open the storybook and began to read the story she loved all too much.

u-o-u

“Mommy, thank you, thank you for answering my wishes; you really do have magic. I was so happy today, I felt like I was special. I felt like Cinderella, freed from this cold gray world, away from everybody’s judgement. I felt nothing except the kindness of his smile and the warmth of his large hands. He’s got large hands just like daddy, but he doesn’t always look so annoyed with me, not like daddy does. Thank you mommy, for letting the prince see me. Thank you for helping me find the only person, other than you, who would see me for who I am, who wouldn’t run away. I don’t think this prison is so lonely anymore; I can still sense his presence next to me. Yes, everything’s still black and white, it’s still dark, cold, but I’m happy because he will be coming again tomorrow. Thank you mommy, for sending me someone who will take me away from this time and place, someone who will give me my happily ever after.”

u-o-u

“Wow. Her condition has improved a lot! She actually smiles at people; sometimes she even greets the nurses. She doesn’t stare at one random thing for hours. This is really great! Soon enough, she’ll be able to go home. It’s all thanks to you Charm. After two unresponsive years, a month with you and she is already doing better.”

“Oh no, don’t give me any credit for it, all I do is read to her,” Charm smiled at the nurse, and stopped in front of the cell he had been visiting for the past four weeks. Yes, it’s been a month, and his time was up. Today was the last day he was ever going to set foot in this creepy place ever again. Since the girl was getting better, then she won’t need him anymore, it will save him a guilt trip.

“After they danced at the ball, Cinderella’s magic wore off and she had to runaway. As she was running, Cinderella fell and lost her slipper. The prince picked it up, and the next day he went around looking for a girl who the shoe would fit. Cinderella waited and waited for the prince to come, and she was the only one the slipper fitted! So the prince took her away, and they lived happily ever after.”

“The end,” Charm lifted the back cover of the book, and let it drop as he hastily summarized the story for the twenty-eighth. Every day he had come to visit Celia she had asked him to read the story, and so he began to paraphrase it after his patience wore thin. Celia didn’t seem to realize, and even if she did, she must have not minded, as she never said a word. Then again, she rarely did react to his attempts at a normal conversation. Celia made no comment when Charm told her that it was his last day, skillfully dramatizing his sadness and hopes for her future. She only smiled and asked him to read her a story, the same story, and repeated their routine as if he had never spoken. Charm has started to realize why the girl has been shut up in a mental ward for two years.

“That was great, I’m so happy for Cinderella. The prince came and took her away, now she won’t have to suffer anymore,” Celia beamed up at Charm, her crystal blue eyes shining with newfound life. That was the response she had given him every time after he had finished reading the story, and each time he would smile patiently and pat her golden hair. Charm sighed internally, but his smile never wavered. It’s the last day; he will endure it, just ten more minutes. Now it comes the time for her to ask him stupid questions, really, isn’t she already sixteen? However, Celia didn’t make a single sound. She looked up at Charm expectantly, refusing to speak until he returned her comment.

“Yes, it’s really great,” Charm said carelessly, but not forgetting to grin. Charm was a nice guy, a gentleman if you may, but even the kindest man has his limits, and Charm’s patience wasn’t going to allow itself to be stretched any further. He stuffed the book into the bottom of the stack of books he brought. Somehow, he still hoped that she would stop torturing him with the same story of Cinderella, and he would finally open one of the other, less idiotic, books.

Still, no response followed, Celia simply stared up at Charm’s face, her eyes distant and unblinking. Charm cursed in his mind, the girl was regressing, going into her crazy trance again. It was really uncomfortable, not to mention creepy, for his face to be stared at for so long.

“What’s wrong?” Charm refused to stop smiling, the same smile that has been nailed onto his face and sealed with blood. He couldn’t get it off, no matter how hard he tried, he would just keep smiling. He smiled as the time passed, and continued to smile to the point where he wondered if his face might suddenly crack and shatter, or if he was wearing a mask with a smile drawn on it all along. Celia didn’t answer, and the minutes dragged on. Charm smiled his superficial smile, and Celia drowning in the depth of her own blue eyes.

“Time’s up!” the click of the key echoed in the heavy silence that had began to sink in, and the nurse’s bellow shook the room. The air vibrated as the noises invaded. The metal white door swung open, and a long column of light crept into the room, forcing the darkness to quickly scramble away.

“Oh, I guess it’s time for me to go,” Charm felt himself relax, and hoped that it wasn’t visible. He picked up his books and gave Celia a warm smile, the last damn smile the little lunatic was going to squeeze out of him. “I hope you get better Celia, and when you get released, we can hang out together.”

Celia didn’t answer, she just stared blankly at the column of light, and the shadow of the nurse it framed. Charm kept his smile and turned away from her, walking toward the exit almost with a spring in his step.

“Ah, Charm, you did really good work, I hope you come back and volunteer again. Now Celia, be nice and say bye-bye to Charm,” the nurse held the door open for him, and wore the same paint-on smile as all the rest. Charm turned around dutifully to face Celia, but wished beyond wishing that she would keep sitting in her trance and let him get away.

Celia slowly rose to her feet and began walking toward the door, her eyes staring straight at Charm, her distant eyes slowly gaining focus. Suddenly, she broke into a run. Celia dashed out the door, roughly pushing the nurse and Charm out of the way, then continued to move down the hallway, passing the endless rows of repeating doors without a second glance, charging straight at the flashing exit sign, as if her life depended on it.

“Celia!” Charm quickly recovered from the shock, and before he knew it himself, he took off after her, dropping his books and ignoring the nurse. If she caused any trouble, it definitely would not look good on his resume.

“Celia, what do you think you’re doing?” Charm followed Celia as she leapt out of the door, her white uniform fluttering behind her, a small bird without wings, trying desperately to fly. She suddenly stopped after her feet pounded several times into the pavement. She scanned her surroundings, her eyes drinking in every detail, no longer staring at a single thing. Charm felt his heart stop and begin beating hysterically again. Celia was standing in the middle of the street, her small, white figure swallowed by the vast black gravel road. Charm wondered if she was trying to suicide, but he didn’t think that Celia even knew there was the option of suicide. He relaxed, just a little. It was a red light, and this street wasn’t well-traveled.

“Celia, come back here, it’s dangerous!” he wanted to run, to get her himself, but his legs were rooted to the ground. Did he want her to die? No, of course not, but he never signed up for this, he never imagined that he would have to jump into the middle of the street for a crazy girl. He was a straight-A student, he has a future, a life to live; one that she’ll probably never find in that empty mind of hers. No, it doesn’t matter, he has a life to save, a life is important no matter what, isn’t it? “Celia!” he screamed, while trying to force his legs to move.

“It’s still black and white! There’s no color; there’s no color in this world! Everything’s so sad and gray. This city, this life, it’s so colorful, so beautiful, that’s what people tell me, but where is it? Did mom’s magic not work? No, it must have worked; she brought you to me, prince! Oh, but what time is it? Is my magic starting to go away?” Celia kept looking frantically at the endless rows of repeating buildings that lined the streets, her voice fully distraught, but for the first time Charm has heard it, it was loud and clear – without inhibitions.

“What are you talking about?” Charm followed her gaze, but saw no abnormalities, “It is colorful; look, that house right there is blue and that neon sign is green. Look at me, my jacket is red,” he quickly shook of his coat and waved it high in the air for her to see.

“No, it’s not red; it’s gray. That sign is gray, the house is gray, this whole world is gray! People tell me that things are colorful, but no matter how long I stare at them, they’re still gray! I need to get away; I need to get away from here!”

Charm lowered his jacket slowly, then stared down at it. It was red, a bright red actually. He looked up at the girl, her golden hair flowing in the wind. “What color is your hair Celia?”

“Gray.”

Charm felt his stomach sink, and tears tried to force their way out of his eyes. He smiled, his natural defense; smile, and it would all go away.

“Celia . . .” he managed to whisper through the suffocating pressure on his chest.

“Prince Charming, you have the same smile as daddy,” Celia suddenly called out to him, turning her head over her shoulder and flashing a soft smile, a beautiful, heartfelt smile. She touched her cheeks, then licked the moisture off of her finger, “What is this salty thing?”

Charm cried.

“Look, prince, look at that light! It must be mommy’s magic, mommy’s going to cast her magic on me, and the world will finally become colorful!”

Charm lifted his head just in time to see a bright red minivan crash violently into Celia’s fragile body. The sickening crack that followed echoed through his bones, and the horrific presence of death struck at him, knocking him senseless. He was suffering, the excruciating pain carving in his soul its invisible scar.

Celia’s body flew, sailing through the air until it slammed into the pavement, her thin limbs twisting and jabbing out in distorted poses, crumpled up like a tangle of straws. Charm ran, as if the chains have been ripped off of his legs. He ran as fast as he could, he ran to Celia’s side, even as his mind fled in the other direction. His breathing was ragged, and he couldn’t stop it, he couldn’t force himself to be calm, he couldn’t even smile anymore. Celia’s golden hair was spilled out around her, shining brilliantly, cut off suddenly by a progressing circle of dark red. Her blue eyes stared up at him, like they always did, staring blankly as a thin film came over them. She laid there on the ground, tear drops resting on her porcelain cheeks. Her white patient’s uniform was stained a severe red. She was like a doll, the doll she always was, but this time she was no longer damaged, but finally broken.

Charm sobbed, cried as hard as he could. Suddenly, he noticed that a shoe was missing from her right foot. Charm stood up slowly, his eyes following the trail of blood toward the car that had brutally crushed her, the bright red car that stole Celia’s life. A small white slipper sat in front of the red vehicle, still upright, as if its owner was still standing in it. A lone drop of blood found shelter on the shoe and spread, followed by another. Half of the shoe was crimson, stained by the blood that dripped off of the car’s dented front bumper.

A woman quickly ran out of car and stood by it in shock. Her bright red hair framed her small, freckled face in a bob, and her light green eyes were wide with horror. Her hands silenced her screams as tears rolled down her cheeks. An older man sat in the driver’s seat of the car, his stunned expression frozen on his face. He had beautiful blue eyes just like Celia, but they were tired eyes, very tired.

u-o-u

“Prince Charming, are you here to take me away? Hurry, hurry before the magic disappears, before my time is up.”

note: The story is like a first-person story written in third-person (yes, I know it’s called omniscient, but it’s not exactly that.) It is split between Celia and Charm’s point of view, so it is written in third person. However when it’s in Charm’s point of view, what Celia is thinking is not revealed, and when it’s in Celia’s point of view even the narration is based on what she feels and sees (so some descriptions are exaggerated versions that only Celia sees, and are not literal). It doesn’t directly reveal the character’s thoughts, only through dialogue and descriptions. Also, wether or not there is a romantic element in this story is all up to the reader; I will not implying either.