Fairy tales: The Glass Slipper, the Dragon Slayed, a magic castle in the mountains, the Ever After All. That what how it’s supposed to go.

Supposed to be

For me

Not me

I worked hard to pull out the sword, day after day. Learning growing. Learning growing. Learning growing practicing. Learning, growing practicing, rehearsing, and going the extra mile. Giving it all and then some. Burning both ends of that magic rose, just to live up to my vision. Of what I gotta get to, of what I gotta be.

When the clocks struck 12, my big moment was at hand. The music rose as my hands tensed and gripped that handle. Inhale pause exhale pull. The sword yanked out like butter, just like in practice. Lifting it, my smile beamed, but inside I was dark.

Now onto the quest, the classics: a damsel in distress with a beast to slay. I was “finally ready”. But that was all for today.

My tale: just scraping by, Fridays, Saturdays, and a holiday or 2.

I left the studio looking around at the muddy j light streets. Fires lit in barrels lined the streets, and the more unfortunate were huddled around them. One couple was curled up on a bench, with a coat, being the only thing to keep them warm during a brisk night like today. A cardboard sign lay on the sidewalk next to them, soggy and worn by the years.

I buzzed the ringer and walked into my 1 room “palace”. The papers that ended my happily after

Lay scattered on my floor.

I gave her the horse-drawn carrier, the ring with a gem, the whole fairy tale shit. But I was just a stop on the way to her Prince Charming.

Leaving me alone.

Where the hell is my Fairy Tale