Just a one-shot I wrote inspired by Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman. Hope you guys enjoy it, I know I loved writing this one. Review, or don't, I know it can be hard to find the time to review, but if you can please do.
P.S. I don't own Degrassi.
The wrinkles on his tanned skinned seemed to be more defiant than ever over the past few weeks. The days dragged on while he sat on a desk starring at a picture of a small six year old girl with short, sandy brown, curly hair, and bright blue eyes. She was his pride and joy. When he would come home late at night she always managed to twist his thin pink lips into an upward manner. There were those times when he just wanted to get out of this world. She was the only thing holding him in place.
Randall Edwards slowly pushed back his black desk chair while running a dainty hand through his light brown hair. The office seemed to glow from the lamp light. A deep sigh emerged from his lips. His blue eyes were dull and lifeless. While he sat starring at the light traveling from his laptop, he heard a quite song begin to play. When he looked over he noticed the child from his picture standing before him.
"Look daddy I'm a ballerina," a young Clare gleefully announced. She began to spin around the office slowly to the quite music. She had managed to get herself into one of her play dresses, and Randall couldn't help the light chuckle that emerged from his throat. She twirled over to where he sat and reached for his hands.
"Come on daddy. There is a ball at the castle, and I've been invited, and I need to practice my dancing. Oh, please daddy, please." He knew he wouldn't be able to resist, so he grabbed onto the little girls hands, stood up, and pulled her into his arms. It was the moments like this that he wished would never end. He understood that one day Clare would find her knight in shining armor, but something that boy would never fully understand would be the love Randall held for his daughter. He longed for the moments when he could see her icy blue eyes light up, but sadly those moments started fading along with the years.
Clare was no longer the little ballerina she used to be. Her blue eyes still shone when the light caught them just right, and her curls still bounced when she walked through the halls, but gone was the child like glow that used to follow her. As much as he regretted saying it, his little Clare Bear was growing up. She now wanted nothing to do with princesses, but spent her time telling her father about Eli.
"Daddy, he's a nice guy, and you'd be impressed," her angelic voice rang out in his head. He believed that Clare truly loved this boy, but there were times where he still missed the little girl who would ask him to dance with her. He starred at the seventeen year old girl standing in front of him. She looked stunning in the light blue dress that hugged her curves, and seemed to make her eyes brighten more than usual. Clare wanted her dad to approve of her dress for prom, and Randall proudly gave her his approval. Before he could go back to work, he again heard the quite song from so many years back.
"Dad, the prom is just one week away, and I need to practice my dancing. Oh, please, Daddy, please?" For the first time in a while a genuine happiness played on his facial features. He nodded before grabbing his daughters hands. He could only wish that someday Eli would be able to make his daughter happy. But sometimes there are things only a father can understand. His little girl was growing up so fast, and he never wanted to miss a chance to hold her in his arms.
It had now been six years since that week before prom. The years of hard work and fatigue were now noticeable on his face. Clare came bounding through the doors to his home. He didn't fail to notice the sparkling diamond adorning his daughter's left hand. Clare had been right about Eli, and Randall treated him as if he was his own son, so when he came to ask permission to marry Clare he wasn't hesitant on saying yes.
Her features hadn't changed much over the years, but she now had a more sophisticated aura about her. Randall knew that he didn't have that much time left, so he took in every detail of Clare's porcelain face. He never wanted to forget the days where it was just him and her. Once again he heard soft music breaking through his thoughts.
" Dad, the wedding's still six months away, but I need to practice my dancing. Oh, please, Daddy, please?" And once again he grabbed her small hands and began swaying to the beat of the music. He only let a single tear slide down his check as Clare softly laid her head onto his chest. She was his Cinderella, and he knew that once the clock struck midnight her glass slipper would be in Eli's hands, waiting for when he too had a little girl of his own.
Randall stood next to his not so little girl behind the church's double doors. Chattering family members were quickly shushed by soft organ music playing. Clare softly pushed open the doors, taking Randal's arm in her own. He couldn't deny that his daughter looked beautiful. Her white dress hung around her body effortlessly. He looked down the aisle to see a smiling Eli waiting at the altar. It was this moment that he dreaded, the moment where he would finally have to let Clare go. As they reached the altar he turned and wrapped Clare into a giant hug.
"I love you sweetie," he whispered, letting the tears freely fall down his face. He looked over his shoulder to Eli, and there wasn't a single doubt in his mind that she would be safe.
This time when the clock struck midnight, she really would be gone.