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                                                             by Henry Hun

 

I wait excitedly for my Happily ever after, especially my true love's kiss! I am a princess of lands who bask in the dawning light and whose people are of endless hope. My kingdom thrived off stories of great magic and Faeries; Even among the many princesses before me, six faeries were invited. How lovely they were, my lineage receiving gifts of song, beauty, courage, and much more! Though it's rumored an evil fairy, who was forgotten, cursed future princesses of poison upon the spindle of spinning wheels. 

 

I believe that explains why I am presumed dead on my bed. My people are so hopeful that they cling to folklore to describe the unimaginable. It was an error on my behalf; I was intrigued by the maids spinning wheels that I touched upon the spindle plastered with flax. I fell ill to the where I cannot move nor speak; I cannot even blink...The last conversations I heard were between my Mother and Father. 

 

"We cannot bury our daughter. It's too much to handle!"

 

"Let us leave her in her chambers. . .shall she lies within the comfort of her resting place."

 

I am not dead. 

 

My charming prince can break my curse. He will come from the heavens, intrigued by my beauty such as I am – he shall bestow me a kiss, and true love shall break my fate of false death! Zellandine, you'll ask. . .He is a stranger; how shall that be the truest of love? But it is simple; we've met before! Once upon a dream.

 

The morning dawns again, the warm sunglow creeping along my face and towards my locs. I rest in the same position my Father left me, hands resting on my torso and legs left to run down the sheets. The birds sing such beautiful songs, and the noise of a rushing river keeping tempo fills me with contentment. Oh, how I wish to dance once more, but my cold legs cannot move anymore. . . Let alone I cannot open my eyes. I feel locked in. Entombed, my mind is left to wander and listen to Mother Nature's music. Until. . .a new sound joined her orchestra.

 

"Hello! Is anyone up there !?"

 

… Y-Yes! I am here! The voice is of a man; his tone is gentle and mature yet so far away. The sounds of birds drifted away, and the leaves crunching left me to assume he was below my window. He sounds charming, just like the prince I've enjoyed dancing in my dreams. Oh, How I wish I could pull myself up from these silk sheets to meet my prince; He's finally come to break my curse, and we could live Happily ever after! I could hear his grunts of determination as the sound of stomps along the stone rang in my ears. He was climbing the rocks of my tower, just as my dream foretold! The evident vines and leaves crunching from under each stomp to the sounds of life gazing upon the walls of my building. . . Oh, how I wished to witness such a moment beyond the sight of the sleepless dark. 

 

"Is there anyone there ?! I am coming up !"

 

I lay still as time forced me, feeling his presence soon envelope the room. I felt more alive than I have since meeting the spindle against my finger. Though my eyes moved me to see the dark behind my lids, I could hear his breaths of exhaustion but disbelief. . .Did the sun make me glow from how warm it is? He dared but step closer, snapping his fingers to awaken me. I am sorry, my prince. . .To what I wish to meet your gaze within mine.

 

"Why won't you awaken. . .do you lay curse with slumber or worse death?"

 

But not, of course. I hear you and can feel your presence dawning upon my visage. I cannot be dead; I am cursed and seek your role within my fairytale. So why do you sit and heave. . . have you changed your mind? Will you not kiss me awake from my slumber for the sake of true love? The room stayed with a haunting silence. . . His glare soon felt like piercing needles to my body. He no longer felt like a charming prince. Instead, he crept like a shadow and loomed slowly toward my bed. He ever so grazed his rough humid hands alongside my face, the touch leaving me sick.

 

I lay paralyzed. The kiss of true love I waited patiently for to lift my curse. My prince is here, and My happily ever after is on the horizon. Why is it, I am afraid? The feel of his stare started to disgust me, his fingers twiddling with my locs and the frills of my gown. His hands soon tore at my dress with lust and temptation. I realized by now I was never meant to be saved. His touch made me feel dead.