A NOT SO FAIRY TALE/

Once upon a time a princess fell in love with a knight.
He was a strong knight, proud and daring.
This knight, the princess noted was destined for greatness.
Yet she knew that behind that brilliant façade lurked much sadness.
A sadness that was deep and almost impenetrable.
It was this that drew her love towards him,
She wondered how such a tall and dashing creature, victorious after many battles, can still be hunted ferociously by his own demons.

It was not hard for them to find each other.
After all, a princess and a knight belong together.
And for a while their love was strong.
The princess felt that together they had defeated his inner demons,
… but she was fooled
As most people are, when in love.

Slowly, beneath their consciousness a wave of trouble started its undertow.
The princess after believing to having accomplished her goal,
wanted to be loved in return.
Ang being a princess, she would not settle for anything less than everything.
And everything is what he gave..
The knight loved her like he knew how to… like a damsel forever in distress.

From then on, an ugly cycle was perpetuated
She would need saving, and he would come to rescue her.
The princess believing the knight to be of immortal strength,
made this routine the norm.
And the knight did his duty without fail, with barely a word of complaint.
He did this because he was noble and because he did not know better.

Before they knew it they were both swept under.
He was exhausted from the tiring cycle.
And she being unaware of the heavy burden of her weight, could offer no solace.
They reached a point of no return
and he collapsed and was completely spent.
Dropped as she was in the cold water of uncertainty,
she flailed around and let his inner demons get the better of him.
She did not know what to do.
So she picked herself and tilted her head to the sky.
She stood tall as she watched him walk away.

They parted and continued to move away
with a growing mountain of pride separating them,
a quiet sea of regret dividing them.

Perhaps someday, they shall meet again.
And if that day should come, let a gust of reality come in between them
For the truth is, she never was a princess
And he is only a man.
And that is how it should have been from the very beginning.

THE END.