Holding My Heart (A Cinderella Story)


Preface...

You know how grownups always have their way of telling you, you're messed up? They try to break it to you in a nice way. If you're a foster child, like me, they won't just tell you that your mom died of cancer, your dad died of suicide, and you're a homeless with no family. Yep. That's me. So that's why I'm here, standing in front of a strange house that looks slightly intimidating. My new house.

It wasn't my idea to get a new family. I was perfectly happy being alone. And after what happened to my parents, I got shipped off to my crazy, deranged, aunt that I never met. Now they're expecting me to forget about my past like losing both your parents is just as simple as forgetting what you ate for dinner last month. I won't forget about them. I promised myself that I would think about them every day.

That's how I get to sleep. When I think about them, I cry. So, I cry myself to sleep. It takes so much energy to let it all out that I get exhausted afterwards.

It's like losing everything you have. Everything except that last string of faith. After all, faith makes it possible... not easy.







Chapter 1...

"Well...This is it," Says Mrs. Tate, the social worker.

She's the one that placed me at my aunt's house in the first place. I haven't said anything to her the whole ride here. I'm not talking to her at all. I'll talk to her when I forget about my parents.

"You're so stubborn. You're going to have to talk to me sometime," She glances at me. "I'll go get your aunt."

I watch as she walks over to the door and knocks. I stare at the ground. Trying not to make eye contact with either of them,. But, within minutes I hear footsteps and shadows are suddenly covering me.

"Cassidy, this is your aunt, Elona," Mrs. Tate says with a big smile. I just look at my aunt. Enjoying the awkward silence it leaves.

"Well, I'll go get my daughters to introduce you to them," Elona says. I smile. Only because I can tell she's uncomfortable. When she leaves Mrs. Tate tries to make small talk with me.

"Doesn't she seem nice?" She asks.

She gets no answer.

"Oh, don't worry; you'll love her and her daughters."

Elona comes out with two girls about my age. One looks moderately nice and the other looks really stuck up.

"Cassidy, this is Bridget," She points to the one that looks snobby. "And this is Carina," She points to the other one.

Bridget has straight light brown hair that reaches to her mid-back. Her cheekbones are high and she has bright brown eyes. Carina is the exact opposite. She has extremely curly blonde hair that looks amazing on her. Her bright purple eyes stand out, and I think she's prettier than Bridget.

"Hi. Cassidy, right?" Carina asks.

I nod.

"Um, she doesn't talk much," Mrs. Tate says with a grimace.

"That's alright. I'll show you, your room." Carina smiles at me and takes my hand. They don't need to take my luggage because all I have is a duffel bag. I'm not letting anyone touch it.

When the doctors told my mom she had cancer, she started taking on sewing and knitting. But she did it handmade. She used to have this mask that was beautiful. It was pure white with these flat rhinestones placed intricately. She decided to give it to me before she died. On the inside of the mask there's a red C stitched in it. C for Cassidy, and its red because red is my favorite color. Opposite of where the C is, but still where no one can see it from the front, is more stitching. I've memorized every word, every stitch and every little mistake on it. I say the words in my head again.



C,
I'm sorry. I have no other choice, but leaving you is much worse than death. Cancer will take me away from you. Remember: I will always love you and I will never forget about you. She here is the mask I wore before I met your father. Keep it and remember me by it.

Love,
Mom


It was all stitched in. I always laugh at how "Mom" looks like "Mem" from the mistake she made on the O.

I'm suddenly brought back to reality and realize that Carina and I are walking up a staircase. We reach the top and she leads me down a long hallway. Their house is HUGE! At the end of the hallways is a room. The door was closed and Carina opens it.

"This is your room," She says.

The room is simple, yet elegant. And white. There's a white bed, a cream dresser, a mini, cream colored, L shaped couch, and cream colored rugs on the dark hardwood floors. It was beautiful.