Once Upon A Winter Wish

Standing on a balcony overlooking the snow-covered gardens, twenty-one-year-old Miranda Spencer rested her arms on the stone balustrade as she gazed wistfully up at the stars. She could hear laughter and music drifting out from the masquerade ball on the other side of the glass doors. Yet to Miranda, it seemed a world away. How could she possibly enjoy the festivities when all she could think about was that one winter night three years ago?

With a sigh, Miranda drew a small music box from her pocket. Carefully opening it, she listened to the soft Christmas melody. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she remembered the day Darius had given her the music box, a gift meant for a child. Miranda would never forget the moment she saw him. She was playing with Lady Windham’s three-year-old granddaughter when he strode into the room with a neatly wrapped gift in hand. Tall with dark hair and gold-specked brown eyes, Darius Ashmore captivated her the instant he walked in with the intention of giving a Christmas present to his great aunt’s young guest, only to discover she was not as young as he thought. Miranda was a few years younger, not a few years old.

The night had gone by quickly after that. From her first waltz at Lady Windham’s winter ball to her first kiss in the shadows, Miranda never forgot a moment of that magical night. How often had she, as a child, wished upon a star to live a fairy tale? That night Miranda thought Darius would fulfill her wish. He had promised he would come for her. But he never did.

Yet, Miranda never ceased to hope that one day he would come and take her away from the miserable life she led under her stepmother’s roof. With another sigh, she closed the music box. Shaking her head to clear her mind of such foolish reveries, Miranda froze when she heard the doors open behind her. “I did not think I would find you out here.”

Her eyes widened as she recognized the familiar voice she had dreamt of for the last three years.

~*~*~*~

Staring at the woman who had thoroughly entranced him and then disappeared without a trace, Darius said quietly, “It seems you are finally done hiding from me.”

“What do you mean?” Miranda asked incredulously. “I never hid from you.”

“I have had enough of your games, Miranda. I spent the last three years searching for you,” Darius said bitterly. “Do not tell me you never knew.”

She shook her head, confusion evident on her face. “I waited for you… But you never came.”

“Your mother –”

“My stepmother?” Miranda asked, her eyes wide with realization.

And then everything began to make sense. All those times he asked for Miranda, the same woman answered the door, giving him different excuses. He should have suspected something was wrong…

Darius noticed a familiar music box in her hand. Reaching for it, he realized it was the same one he had given her three winters ago. She had kept it all this time…

With a shy smile, Miranda said softly, “I never gave up. I always hoped you would come for me.”

“I’m here now,” he said quietly. “And I’m not leaving this time.”

Tilting her face up, Darius leaned down and kissed her gently.

When snow began to drift from the sky, neither noticed.


I know how sappy this story might sound, but I really wanted to write a happy ending. That was the only thing I had in mind when I started writing this for the Holiday Contest on Eloisa James' Bulletin Board... I think it might have sounded better if I decided to write it as a thousand words story rather than a 500 word story as specified for the contest. As it is, I've already maxed the word limit. But I'll post this up on the blogspot. This should make Jen happy. Jen? I still haven't seen that first chapter. I'm not writing anything until I see it... lol. A little late, but here's my holiday story which you can also find on Eloisa James' Bulletin Board.

~Andrea