Red lipstick, stilettos, an expensive handbag I received as a gift from the company, a dress that accentuates the curve of my hips. But for some reason, I look like a horse-woman. A kind of centaur with size 42 shoes, in a red dress, with red lipstick, an eye-catching handbag, and the look of a lost sheep.
Yes, I have identified with a sheep for my whole life. And although I have nothing against these cute animals, I feel uncomfortable in this image.
I’ll try to play around a bit in front of the mirror. That’s what my famous boss Iren Cheery teaches. I smile, wink, start spinning in front of the mirror and… “MEOW!” – I step on Richard’s paw. Damn confidence-building exercise! I guess Iren just doesn’t have a cat at home.
Richie, forgive me! I just wanted to be more confident before meeting the girls. You know what a stress this is for me.
Meow, – Richard, being a very clever man, rubs against my legs and purrs.
I look at the clock and realize – there’s no time to waste. It’s time to face my greatest fear. Or rather, my five fears, who proudly go by the names of May, Kat, Victoria, Olga, and Roxy. These are my classmates. The very girls who defended Charles Perrault’s heroine, and at the same time me. My best friends from university days. But over time, and with my unsuccessful attempts to sort out my life, the girls have gone from friends to “we see each other once a year just for formality.”
May is involved in the investment business and drives a top-of-the-line car. I understand as much about investments as I do about Audi models, so I’ll just say – she’s a super successful woman of the extra-class. By the way, she got married last year to the grandson of a former deputy. And I associate her with good luck. A woman who not only became successful herself but also found a worthy partner.
Kat became a singer and got stuck in Knoxville, where we studied. By the way, she’s the only one from our group who chose Knoxville for her future life. She works in an expensive restaurant and goes abroad for vacation at least three times a year. She has a boyfriend who is also the owner of the restaurant where Kat works. She ranks second in the “successful classmate girls” rating.
Victoria is a charming blonde whose character is closer to angels than to people. She got pregnant in her third year and got married. Now she has three children – a son and twin daughters. And a husband who accidentally opened a business that expanded all over Ukraine. Victoria doesn’t interfere in her husband’s affairs; she proudly calls herself a mother and an avid shopaholic.
Olga was my best friend for all four years of university. It was with her that we bought pies in the cafeteria, flirted with classmates, and did our internships. But then her dad became the prosecutor of the region, and Olga transformed into a girl in a sable fur coat who never, ever stooped to eating pies in the university cafeteria.
Roxy and I didn’t communicate much during our student years. She was friends with Kat and May. The only thing I remember about her is her sweet awkwardness. And when her homework wasn’t ready, she would proudly stand up from her desk and say, “Mr Johnson, please don’t scold me.”
A Japanese cuisine restaurant. All the waiters are in kimonos, and in the center of the hall is a huge aquarium. If everything goes terribly wrong, I’ll volunteer to become fish food and drown. Hmm, not a bad mood for a meeting with old friends.
I see a table for five. And I see the faces of plastic girls (no, they are really alive, believe me, it’s just that I have seen such looks only on Instagram and in “Children's World” when I bought a Barbie doll for my niece).
Hi, Baby! Oh, you came in such Louboutins! – May says loudly in a strong southern accent. I feel the scent of perfume and the aura of “expensive and rich.”
Hello! We didn’t recognize you right away! – Kat said for everyone.
And where is Roxy?
Oh, she’s running late.
When the waiter arrived, I wanted to order vodka and a time machine to go back home and invent a stomach upset just to avoid sitting among the girls. After all, it seemed that their lives were every girl's dream. One is a careerist, another is a wonderful mom; they are all so different, but they are united by one thing – success and happiness.
So, girls, tell us how everyone is doing? What’s everyone up to? – Olga took the initiative.
Oh, everything is great with me. Tomorrow I’m flying to the Maldives. We're going to buy a villa there. Also waiting for a new Bentley to arrive from the showroom. I won’t say this has been my dream, but let’s just say, I had to wait a month for them to paint it in rose gold. Oh, but why am I talking about myself? You already know all of this from my social media. I’m a blogger too. – May hasn’t changed. The only thing is that her silver crown has become golden.
I’m working on myself – I have my own beauty salon, so I spend most of my time there. Setting up the business. I recently opened a second salon – already in New York, and I’m thinking of moving there over time. I’m getting married soon! – summarizes “Olga-I-Never-Ate-in-the-University-Cafeteria.”
Cool! Congratulations! – Victoria said in a thin voice.
Oh, I have such a cool organizer! He organized the wedding for the Beckhams. Do you want me to give you his number?
Thanks, I’ll think about it. Victoria, what about you? You’ve become even more beautiful!
I’m getting by slowly. I stay home, do yoga and take care of the kids. I don’t always have enough time for myself, but when I look at my little ones, I understand that it’s all worth it.
Cool! I’m also starting to think about kids – Kat said quietly. – Everything is the same for me, I sing in a restaurant. We’re preparing documents to emigrate to Germany. He has relatives there, we’re trying to sort out visas and invitations, and we’re going to move.
That’s it. Only I and Roxy, who still hasn't arrived, are left. Damn, what to come up with? Maybe pretend that I have a sore throat and can’t talk? But I greeted the girls and talked very loudly.
Cinderella, why are you silent?
I work for Iren Cheery, helping women find their way to themselves.
I took her course! She’s so cool! – Kat saved me from the awkward silence, from whom I definitely did not expect to hear anything good about my job.
When my moment of fame passed, we ordered red wine and a huge sushi set for everyone. To somehow cheer myself up and make sure that I’m not the biggest loser in the world, I head to the restroom to touch up my lipstick.
While I stand in front of the mirror, I hear a scream that echoes throughout the restroom.
"What are you yelling at me for? Did you fight with your bunny again? You've had it with me! I'm tired of putting up with your scandals and infidelities. What? I'm not giving you anything! Since you're like this and have given me everything, you'll earn it back."
It's May's voice. The same one. That luxury-class woman who, just five minutes ago, was an example and motivation for me. The one I considered a symbol of happiness and success. Her husband cheats, and she knows about it? And she tolerates it? If my Jensen did that, I would have ripped her hair out first and then gouged his eyes out so he'd know. And I'd probably end up in prison for five to ten years, but that's a whole different story.
While I ponder an alternative scenario of my family life with Jensen, the door of the last stall swings open, and a grief-stricken, thin, and exhausted May emerges. How did I not notice those huge bags under her eyes and her vacant stare right away?
"This is my life, Cinderella. All these trinkets hide the poverty of my little soul. He has been cheating on me for all the years we've been together. Cheating, and he doesn't even feel ashamed of it. I'm personally acquainted with his mistress and even know when he goes to see her.
What? How? Why? But why did you marry him? — I feel like my jaw might just drop to the floor.
If you want to live, you have to learn to spin. I married him because I wanted to legalize all the goodies he gave me. And I will definitely take what's mine. You know, there’s one huge plus in playing the fool—no one bets on you and doesn't see you as a worthy opponent.
May, I'm so sorry.
Oh, come on. You know, I missed you. Even though we were never friends, I always admired you and Olga, how you carelessly enjoyed life and smoked during breaks, and I envied you! You had something that I've always lacked. You had what they call life. You enjoyed the moment; you were simply happy back then.
Yes, student life is one of the best periods of my life." — I say sadly and think about how my life might have turned out if I had married in my fourth year or gone to work in my specialty...
...what do you say?
"Huh? What did you say? Sorry, I got lost in thought.
I said, don't you want to go to some pub and just drink and talk like we’re old friends? I'm so tired of pretending to be a queen, and I just want to take off this mask.
Let’s go!
So we returned to the girls, paid our share of the bill (thankfully, my salary isn’t too low, and I don’t feel like a loser when it comes to finances). I have to say we didn’t look for shelter for long. The pub across the street (which I loved for its delicious craft beer) had free tables.
The evening passed very quickly and, to my surprise, very pleasantly. May turned out to be a nice girl who had spent her whole life trying to succeed and become perfect. And when her goals were achieved, she realized that she had paid dearly for it—with her freedom and sincerity.
Her husband came from a very wealthy parliamentary family, so in New York, she knew many nobles. A brand-new car, a two-story house in an elite village near the city, a housekeeper, a cook, a personal driver, and even a makeup artist.
During our conversation, the range of my emotions changed dramatically—I sometimes envied May and was ready to tolerate her husband’s betrayals just to do what my soul desires and deny myself nothing. In a moment I was ready to hug her and sincerely pity her. After all, the only creatures that truly loved May were Pit and Bob—golden retrievers who gave her warmth and care.
When the bartender approached for the third time and asked us to settle up because they were closing, we decided that we hadn’t talked enough yet and went to my old-new friend’s hotel room. Surprisingly, I was able to relax and openly shared my story. About the job that brings me financial satisfaction and allows me not to leave the apartment for days, and about Jensen, who so treacherously betrayed me, and about the little Cinderella—the heroine of a children's fairytale—who never waited for her prince but instead turned into the horse that was supposed to bring that very prince.