This story came out of a wonderful class that Pilar Barrera and Sparrow Alden taught about the writing of fairy tales.  I love the genre of modern fairy stories and am inspired by authors such as Joanna Rhys and Naomi Novik.
This particular tale came to me all at once with the figure of a little girl running through a burning forest and being saved by a not-quite Prince Charming.  I hope you enjoy it.