I read those pages over and over again in disbelief.

I didn’t understand everything that they said, but I was pretty sure I got the main idea.

Tears filled my eyes as I understood what I had found. All of the mean words Sophia had thrown at me like daggers, saying my dad had been careless for not leaving a will, for not leaving any money for us in case the worst happened. For not leaving any money for raising me.

She had given herself and her daughters everything and more, but when had I gotten more than my basic needs? All while being a real-life Cinderella for them just so she would help me out with college?

The papers in my hand trembled as I looked up. My eyes landed on the picture of my dad and me on my nightstand. He had thought of me. For some reason, no one had known about this, but he had taken care of me.

This will mentioned a trust, which I thought was money he’d set aside for me. My economics teacher had talked about trusts last year. And this will mentioned one other thing I was pretty sure about.

I checked the sleeve again to see if there was anything else I’d missed.

There was one other small folded piece of paper. It was notebook paper this time.

I grabbed it, unfolding it quickly to read what was inside.

I gasped, and tears overflowed, running down my cheeks, when I recognized his handwriting.

It was a letter, and he’d addressed it to me.

There was a date at the top, not long before he’d died.

I started reading, not bothering to hold down the sobs coming from the deepest part of me.

My dearest Ella,

I love you. If you’re reading this, it means I joined your mom a lot sooner than I thought I would. Too soon. For that, I’m sorry, baby girl.

I wished we could have had more time together, but that’s how life works. We don’t get to decide what life throws our way. But we do get to decide how we react to it and who we become because of it.

No matter what, I want you to know that I love you and I’m proud of you. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.

I’ll always be with you. Both of us will.

You’re going to grow up fast. I know it. And life is going to throw lots of curveballs your way, just like it did at me. Just remember to always stay strong, do the right thing, even when it’s not easy, and reach for your wildest dreams, mi amor.

You already know. We don’t always get all the time we want. But we get all the time we need. Make the most of it, whether it’s in finding the right man or finding the right place in life for you.

Just know you’re never alone. I’m sorry I won’t be there with you in person to walk you down the aisle or be at your graduation, but know that I’m still with you.

Remember that story about the princess I used to tell you at bedtime? I couldn’t wait for you to figure it out. Maybe you have by now. You were always so smart. All along, the Princess thought she needed the Prince to come and save her, but guess what? She only needed to believe in herself. She didn’t need anyone else to save her.

I’m sure you’ll find the right person someday, someone who will love you for everything you are. But no matter what, mi vida, just remember one thing: you don’t need anyone to save you. That’s already inside you.

I’ll love you always,

Papá

I brought his letter to my chest, my heart aching more than ever before. I wished he’d had the chance to tell me all of this now, that he was still alive.

I needed him more than ever.

Letter still clutched in my hands, I let myself fall back on the bed. I didn’t know how long I lay there. A while.

A million thoughts and memories swirled through my brain. The last time I saw him was when he hugged me goodbye on his way out the door. He had been running late, so it wasn’t one of his good hugs, but he’d promised we’d do something special for my birthday when he got back.

He’d kissed Lindsay and Courtney on the head as he ran out. They had been watching TV and doing their nails in the living room.

I thought about all the things Dad and I used to do together, before Sophia, Lindsay, and Courtney came into our lives.

Our movie nights. Getting ice cream together. My soccer games. How he cheered me on from the sidelines even though I had no idea what I was doing. How I climbed into his lap when he was working from home, and he explained what he was doing. How he taught me to use a computer and do some basic coding.

My app and the science and technology competition and how my heart ached when he wasn’t there to see me win second place.

It wasn’t fair. I was stuck in this messed up fairytale when I just wanted to go back to our old life. I wanted him back.

I thought of Homecoming and the incredibly nice thing Tori had done for me. She’d probably been devastated after her breakup if she’d been in the bathroom by herself. Why hadn’t the cheerleaders been there for her? But even so, all alone, she’d given me her dress.

Somehow, I got off the bed and made my way to the Cinderella dress. Lena had dropped it off a few days ago. It hung on my clothes rack, tucked between some other clothes in case Lindsay or Courtney ever came in.

I touched the fabric, admiring the bright teal color.

Tori had turned out to be the complete opposite of who I thought. On the outside, she seemed haughty, like any other popular girl, but she was actually a really good person, especially after what had happened in the gym with Jesse. She didn’t have to make sure I was okay, but she did.

And Harper, Rey, and Lena. They were really good friends too. They’d been there for me even longer than Tori.

I had no idea if they’d ever be my friends in another reality, one where my dad was still with me, but I had them now. I couldn’t ask for better friends.

And Jesse.

My chest ached at the thought of him. He had been one of my closest friends. No, he had become more than that. I looked at the dress one more time, remembering the look on his face when he saw me in it. How his eyes met mine when we were slow dancing together.

I went back to the bed and picked up my dad’s letter one more time, reading his words. He was right. I didn’t need anyone to save me, but I also knew I had to fight for what I wanted first. Maybe I was wrong, and Jesse wasn’t interested in having anything to do with me anymore, but I had to find out for sure.

No more running away or hiding, hoping what had happened with Jesse would fix itself. No more hoping one day my stepfamily would treat me like one of their own.

No more waiting for someone to come along and save me.

That all changed, right now.

I looked at the clock on my nightstand, then in the mirror. If I hurried, I could still make it to the game.