" 'It's because you're letting the fairy tales you grew up hearing in storybooks and the baseless ideas of love cloud your mind. Love isn't easy. Especially the really good kind. It's difficult, and you'll want to rip your hair out just as many days you'll feel the wind at your back.' She paused, smiling to herself. 'But it's worth it. It's worth fighting for.' "

- n. m.

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pls tell me you guys can see this chapter. This is my fourth time trying to publish it. I posted it last week right after 25 but I don't know why it wouldn't show. Every time I hit publish my computer would freeze and then the chapter wouldn't show when I looked at it. But I hope it works now.

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Anisha grabbed her stomach. If she didn't have stomach pains, she knew there would have been hope that she could've gotten better.

But it had been too late. By the time the scans and tests had been done, she had already known that she was fighting a losing battle.

She was fighting even when she already knew she was going to lose.

Ryan leaned his, worried. He was still trying to piece together what was wrong with her. While sitting there, he hadn't picked up on anything.

The two questions he had asked his mother about her sickness, she had ignored those questions.

"Ryan, listen. Please just listen. I'm tired and I still feel weak. The fever is still there. I just need you to listen, that's all." Anisha's voice was scratchy. Her hands trembled slightly as a sharp pain would pinch her stomach every now and then.

Her voice was distant, fading away.

She grabbed a napkin from the table, covering her mouth as she coughed. A violent cough shook her as she jerked forward a little, her hands were still shaking and her eyes unfocused. She quickly crumbled up the napkin, hiding it under the table.

Blood. The napkin was filled with the blood she's coughed. And Ryan had seen it. She took note of the confusion on his face, his eyebrows knitted together.

Anisha swallowed. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

With the nosebleed and now coughing, she felt lightheaded.

"Just listen." She cut off Ryan before he could even say a word or try and question her.

"Cassie was your dad's sister. He loved her, just like you love Mira. And when she killed herself, it destroyed it. It really destroyed him."

Anisha let out a deep sigh, everything around her was spinning, faster and faster. "It's hard to say why he did everything he did. There's nothing to justify what he did. But it destroyed him. It really did. Losing someone you love destroys people. Losing Cassie ruined him."

She looked at Ryan as he slightly pressed his lips together. It was moments like this that she realized Ryan was more like her than anyone would realize.

He was soft, he was far too soft. It was just something he was able to hide.

The smallest things meant everything to him.

She couldn't help but hope that whoever Ryan would fall in love with, would care and love him so much. That she would love and care for Ryan so much that he would learn what a beautiful thing love was. That he'd let down the walls he had built around his heart. (LMAO If only Anisha knew how badly things are gonna end for Ryan because I'm a heartless bitch who doesn't like happy endings.)

The walls he had built around his heart just because he didn't want to be anything like his mother or his father. He certainly didn't want to be anything like his parents.

"I can't make you forgive him. It's your choice if you want to forgive him. Honestly, the mistakes he made and the things he did, they aren't forgivable. But sometimes, people make mistakes Ryan. That's how life works. Nothing goes according to plan. You can't control that." Anisha gave him a smile small.

He looked like a younger version of Andrew. But his behavior was different from Andrew's.

She was thankful for that.

"Everybody makes mistakes. Your father made mistakes. I made mistakes." There was no denying that. "Your dad loved his sister just like you love Mira."

"Do you remember when Mira was in first grade and she broke her arm when she fell off the monkey bars? I think that was the first time I ever saw you cry since the day I accidentally broke your toy helicopter. But do you remember? You were crying and you wouldn't leave her bedside at the hospital. You bought her the pink teddy bear from the gift shop. She's your sister Ryan. And you love her." Her words were getting to him. Ryan would protect his sister, he wouldn't let anyone hurt his little sister.

He wouldn't let anyone break her fragile heart.

Anisha knew that.

It was the only thing that was giving her faith that her little and innocent daughter would be fine without her.

Mira was a lot stronger than Anisha took her to be. And so was Ryan. But Ryan, Ryan was a little softer than Mira. Anisha was slowly realizing this now.

"That's exactly how your dad felt when he found out that Cassie was in the hospital. She killed herself and she left behind the guilt, she left the guilt for me and your father to deal with. Your father and I, we both ruined our own marriage. But Ryan, not all marriages are like that. There are people who get happy endings. Not all marriages are this fucked up."

"There's always exceptions. Things are different when you love someone. Things are always different when you love someone."

Ryan looked down at his hands. He had made his own mistakes.

Hurting his mother was one of those mistakes.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." His voice held softness. But also fear as he kept looking to her hand, the napkin crumbled into a small ball.

His mother didn't deserve the way people treated her. The way his father had treated her. And he hated her for being so weak.

"Ryan..." Anisha didn't need Ryan to be sorry.

Her broken marriage wasn't his fault. It was her own. It was hers and Andrews. But mostly, it was her own.

"I'm so sorry Mom. For everything I ever said and did to you. I just, fuck, it was easier to blame you. I hated the fact that you stayed with him. I hated you for staying with dad especially when you knew he was cheating on you. I hated that." He sucked his lip, shrugging. Ryan was soft. He didn't ever show it but he was. Things affected him much more then he let on. "Because it's my fault. It's all my fault. You got back with him because I wanted you to. I guess, I...I just blame myself for everything he did to you."

Anisha cleared her throat, awkwardly as she suppressed a cough.

"Ryan, don't. Please don't. I stayed. It was my choice. If anyone is to blame, it's me." She just didn't know how to leave. It had been her choice. And by staying, she had made herself dependent on Andrew.

She didn't know how to leave. Staying had been the easy choice. She wasn't sure if it had been the right choice but it had sure felt like it. "At the end of the day, I was the one who stayed. I let him do everything he did. I let him treat me like that. I just...I didn't know what else to do."

Ryan looked up at his mother, his face ridden with vulnerability for first time. Anisha could see hints of herself. Ryan Hayes hid emotion for two reasons.

The first was he didn't want to be weak like his mother. And the second, the second reason was because he didn't want to be a fuck-up like his father.

"You should've left Mom. You should've taken Mira with you and left me with dad. I'm just as much of a fuck-up as he is." His voice cracked as he let his mother see his own weaknesses and regrets. The vulnerability and fear in his voice hurt.

"You aren't, Ryan. I...I love you. Don't ever forget that. Whatever you do Ryan, don't ever forget that. I love you. And I'm proud of you. I'll be proud of the amazing young man you'll grow up to be. I'll always be proud of you. You, Ryan, you're an amazing son. You're the best son anyone could ever have. I...I love you."

Her words were a puzzle, cryptic and laced with a goodbye message.

Anisha looked back to the Castle, purple and pink. Her eyes slowly filled with cold tears. Her vision was already a little hazy and the tears would only make it worse.

"Your sister loves Cinderella."

Ryan laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension around them. "She's been looking around for Cinderella the minute we got here."

"Yea. Fairytales are nice to read." Her eyes darted back to Ryan. "Mira's too young to understand everything. She's young and she's naïve. The world can be cruel and your sister is too young to understand that. Take care of your sister Ryan. Be there when she needs you."

And she turned away as he opened his mouth to ask why. To ask why she was telling him these things. Ryan was observant and she knew he would pick up on something like this.

Anisha smiled faintly as Mira came running to her. Her dress was sparkly blue, she had wanted to wear her Cinderella dress. She was wearing her favorite pair of sneakers, twinkle toe shoes would light-up red and purple. Her black hair wavy. The necklace, Mira was wearing the necklace her mother had given her. And she wearing a sparkly Princess tiara and she had even brought her magic wand along, it was somewhere in Anisha's purse, hidden under the stained white jacket.

Mira sure looked like a princess. And she was. She was Anisha's princess.

Mira ran to her mother, wrapping her arms around her mother. "Me and Daddy sit in front. Space Mountain so fast but so cool. Mommy! You have to go on it. It's so fun!"

Mira quickly turned to her brother to tell him the same exact story. And to also call him a little baby since he had chickened out.

Anisha looked away as Andrew sat down next to her. She pulled her purse closer to her.

The jacket. The nosebleed. She didn't want him to know. Yet.

"Are you feeling better?" His voice was cautious. He was careful around her. He was trying to save what they had left.

He was trying to make it better.

She looked at him, frail and tired. "No. I'm tired." Anisha was tired and she just wanted to sleep.

He gave her a small nod, reaching out to brush the hair out of her face. Anisha gave Ryan a glance. Ryan's words were clear and loud for her - don't forgive him. He isn't sorry. He's never sorry.

But Anisha had always known that. She had ignored it but she had always known.

Instead, Ryan gave her a small smile. It was a real smile. It was the kind of smile Ryan Hayes rarely gave.

Andrew pressed his hand against her cheek. "You still have a fever. I think we should go home." The worry in his voice surprised her. But she wasn't sure if he truly cared. If he had finally noticed that something was wrong with her.

Or maybe he was just pretending. Like they always had been. For the kids.

Anisha nodded as he stood up. She took her time, making sure she didn't feel too lightheaded as she tried to stand up.

Mira ran over to her father. "We're going home? I haven't even met Cinderella yet."

Her brown eyes became glassy. Anisha knew she was about to cry. Mira had been looking forward to spending the entire day at Disneyland for weeks now. And Anisha, she had been unable to give her daughter that.

"Next time Mira. I promise." Andrew's eyes hadn't left Anisha, once. He knew something was wrong.

It wasn't just the fever. Yet, she refused to tell him. Every damn time, the only thing he ever got was an 'I'm fine.'

Mira held onto her father's hand. She was Daddy's little girl and it was no doubt that he spoiled her. Anisha gave Mira an apologetic smile, apologizing but Mira didn't look at her mother. Instead, Mira tugged on her father's hand, pulling him to help her find Cinderella.

"But I want Cinderella."

Anisha grabbed onto Andrew's arm. She needed support. She needed help just standing up.

She was weak. She was far too weak. She couldn't even carry her own weight anymore.

"Mira stop whining. Mommy doesn't feel good, okay? Next time you can meet Cinderella."

Mira turned to look back at her mother, letting go of her father's hand.

Anisha was sorry, for not being able to make it through the day. She gave Mira an apologetic smile. But instead, Mira smiled up at her mother, giving her a giggle. "Okie."

Andrew wrapped his arm around Anisha, trying to hold her steady.

"Hey dad, I can carry the purse." Ryan gave his father a small nod.

And right there and then, everything felt perfect for Anisha. They were a dysfunctional and broken family. But they were fine. They were all fine, together.

It felt fine.

The world was still spinning around her. Her face still felt hot, the fever was still there. The bitter taste of blood still on the tip of her tongue. The pain in her stomach still sharp. She was still fading away, slowly.

But right there and then, everything felt perfect. It really was.

"Anisha, what's wrong." Her step stumbled as Andrew's arms tightened around her.

She gave him a soft smile. The wariness and anger and bitterness and sorrow, it was gone.

She was ready, to let go. Once and for all.

"Nothing, everything fine. Perfect even." She didn't say anything as he shook his head, picking her up to carry her, placing a hand under her legs and another over her shoulders.

Anisha was weak, far too weak. She couldn't even walk. It's because life had drained the energy out of her. She didn't have it in her anymore.

She rested her face against his chest, she could hear his heart beating. She could hear his heart beating, for her. She giggled like a schoolgirl, the world around her started spinning a little faster. Her body was telling her to shut down. She didn't have enough energy to stay awake any longer.

Anisha closed her eyes, her face pushed against his chest and her legs dangling as he carried her.

It felt perfect.

Anisha Hayes had suffered. She had cried. She had been broken. But she had been whole once. She had been happy. She had been loved.

She had been enough.

Anisha Hayes had been everything she possibly could have.

She had been perfect. And right now, everything felt perfect as Andrew carried her, far away from Sleeping Beauty's Castle. As she left behind the glass slippers, fairy godmothers, white pumpkins and happily-ever-afters.

But it was okay. It was perfect.

Everything about that day was perfect, everything about those few moments was perfect. From Mira who was running around in her Cinderella dress. To Ryan who kept chasing after his sister, pretending to be an evil wizard. To the Andrew and the three words he had whispered to her earlier that day.

It wasn't the ending Anisha had wanted.

But it was still enough, perfect enough. And Anisha couldn't help think how perfect everything felt. And how it felt magical. Like a happily-ever-after. She already knew the end to her story. Her fairytale didn't have a happy ending.

But fucking hell, the way everything felt in those few moments, Anisha couldn't have asked for anything more.

And she couldn't help but maybe believe that some fairy godmother had granted her final wish.

Because it did. It did and it was.

A perfect ending to her story.

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650 votes for the next chapter :) IT'S SEBASTIAN'S CHAPTER NEXT.

I'm decided I will leave the previous chapter as it is for now because I just want to finish the story. ALMOST DONE. This is way more work that I thought it would be lol.

From the last chapter and this one, Ryan doesn't hate Anisha. I was vague about him from the start. He just don't along too well with his mother. In a way, he blames himself because he's the reason Anisha gave Andrew a second chance. Ryan still cares and all that but still, he's growing up and at the stage where kids just grow up I guess?

Everything that happened between Andrew and Anisha will affect Ryan the most. Ryan's biggest fear is making the same mistakes his father did. In a way, blocking people out is his way to cope.

So, the question is: Is Ryan going to break hearts or is he going to get his heart broken?

Ryan cusses a lot, especially in front of Anisha lol. I get this haha. I actually don't cuss in real life except sometimes. My mom lets me cuss in front of her but I can't say bad words in front of my dad. Plus, Ryan's in eighth grade and it's the stage where he's trying to be all cool and stuff :) He's been through things most people his age shouldn't. Broken marriages as well as parents fighting have a greater affect on the kids than most parents realize.

Both Ryan and Mira are going to grow up with fears of letting someone in and getting attached to them.

The answer to the last question is: Who is going to break Mira's heart?

Well, Mira herself mostly will be responsible. A little of Aaron and some Ryan too. But Mira's going to grow up with the same insecurities but she's going to try and fix herself. Mira will get a happy ending but I won't say if it'll be with Aaron or someone else. Right now, they're both in elementary school so her getting mad at him is more of a joke than an actual. Everyone was hating on little Aaron in the last chapter but I promise he isn't going to be bad.