She heard shuffles beside her and looked up to see her tiny friends. In front of them lay a mask.

“Did you make this for me?” she asked softly.

Zuzu pushed the mask closer.

She picked up the small mask and held it up to her face. She giggled. The mask was made up of twigs from the birds’ nests; it had lily petals sewn on – three had been sewn particularly poorly, but Cinderella knew the blind mice had tried their best.

She looked at her friends, wept, and said:

“If only I could go to the ball and wear your beautiful mask. I truly wish I could.”

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