Since the Curtains have Drawn
It's late in the morning but the sun does not bother her. The curtains are drawn as they have been for countless years. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she rises delicately from her comforting bed that is tucked away from reality.
*tip tip tap tip*
"Hungry or not, for one it is required to eat in order to maintain health." she thought to herself. It is not a long journey to the kitchen but for her it took a thousand moons. She was careful to ponder every thought that came to mind, every picture that came to sight, and every noise that struck her ear.
*tap tap tip tip*
Her ever so slight a pace, an ever so graceful gait, accompanied only by the echo of itself amongst the empty hallway, hallways empty ever since the curtains drew. The doors are shut to keep the dust in and the memories out. She feels at peace with the dust and longs to return to it. Her dreams shattered, hope unkindled, kingdom destroyed.
*tap tip tap tip*
She is at the kitchen now, a part of her home that is unlike the others. There is plenty food to be found and she may eat whatever she desires. She does not desire food nor does she wish to eat but she eats anyways. Bran cereal as is usual for her Thursday morning; she does not wish to cook nor has she since the curtains have drawn.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
She is feeling strange today but she is certain it was not the bran. For the first time since the curtains have drawn she wants to go outside "I will not venture too far because I do not want to. Surely this feeling will pass as I admire the garden." she reasons.
*tif tif taf tif*
The overgrown grass is soft around her, relaxing to the touch. The flowers produce a beautiful fragrance lulling her senses. Great trees tower throughout the garden casting a shade that is inviting. She is once again thankful for the gift she received long before the curtains had drawn. The gift of a magic to keep the garden growing and alluring. The garden is wonderful but it is not the peace she is looking for.
*taf taf tif tif*
She leaves the safety of the garden and wanders toward the large, closed castle gates; cautiously and ever so soft she looks through them. The strange feeling is telling her to leave, to wander the streets outside her once awe inspiring castlegrounds. "Open the gates and let rush the memories of the past." implores the feeling. Filled with hate, filled with hope "Leave, get out, never return! As for that gate it will not ope." echoes her shout amongst the castle walls. The unwelcome guest refuses to leave, undeterred so does she.
*taf tif taf tif*
It was not long before she gave in; a feeling like that could not be ignored. The streets are not empty but grin sadistically with others walking here and there. They begin to gaze at her; for the first time since the curtains have drawn they see their princess. She looks up at them with disgust on her face, holding eye contact for no more than a second. The eyes of her people have become cold, desolate, and corrupted. She continues on her path to nowhere, ignoring her kingdom and ignoring the past. They are unworthy of her attention and she of theirs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The wanderers of the street have gathered behind her, curious what the lost princess will do and if the lost princess will return. She continues through the melancholy afternoon streets until she has collected a small crowd not quite thirty. Slowing to a halt she turns to her people. "I..." she mutters. No words are coming to her mouth and she is unable to speak.
*drip drip drop drip*
Tears accompany her eyes. She has nothing to say to her people but they do not care because they have long since abandoned her. "A ruler of old, a ruler no more." they used to say behind her back. With a bitter realization that the princess will not speak the group not quite thirty begins to disperse. Going the way of her tears she embraces the ground. The lost princess will not return nor her people to her.
*drop drop drip drip*
Out of the crowd there is one that has not yet gone astray. One small child that despite the others' dissuasion has decided that she will stay. The young one, like the princess, is consumed with anguish. Unlike the princess, the child is not scared of the past and unlike the child, the princess is not scared of the future.
*drop drip drop drip*
They are aware of the other, comforted by the presence of another who might understand. They have never seen each other before but already they are friends. For the first time since the curtains have drawn she does not feel alone but the tears do not stop.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The princess and the child have retreated to the safe haven that is the castle garden. The gates have been left open, no more hiding. They still have not spoken to the other but the time has come for the silence to be broken. "Will you be my friend?" A simple question asked of the princess, not so much for the answer as it was for a lack of what to say.
*plip plip plop plip*
The tears of the younger are no longer sharp with sadness but instead fervent with friendship. It is time for the princess to start her kingdom anew and continue the legacy. "I will be your friend. Will you be my student?" asks the princess. A quick nod and sympathetic grin is returned to the elder.
*plop plop plip plip*
The tears of the wise princess have reasserted their ambition and gaiety. The princess is grateful for the feeling that drew her outside the gates, the feeling that is her ever watchful friend. It is a friend from long ago before the curtains were drawn, the one who was her mentor. With the curse of immortality came the blessing of a guide.
*plop plip plop plip*
The mentor and the student have moved inside, safe from the rain that has come so suddenly. They are safe sitting upon the couch which fills the air with dust, dust that is no longer a friend of the princess. There are many things to talk about but for now they are happy to sit inside the castle, no longer afraid, no longer alone, no longer are the curtains drawn. In time they will learn and grow together and in time the legacy will continue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Many years have passed and the student who is now the mentor is sitting alone in the silence. She is not actually alone because she has the company of the feeling, the feelings who is her mentor. Together they bear the burden of immortality.
*tick tick tock tick*
The new mentor does not move from her spot because there is no need. The kitchen has long since gone the way of the kingdom and so she cannot eat nor reign. She is sitting in her spot, dying, living, forever alone.
*tock tock tick tock*
The kingdom had never returned; they were far too lost. The princess from the time when the curtains were drawn, the princess who is the old mentor, is sorry for her mistakes because it was her fault from the start.
*tock tick tock tick*
The new mentor is still in her spot as she will be forever. There is no one left to teach, no one left to continue the legacy. Thus the new mentor will sit, continuing the legacy herself, forever alone. She does not hate her mentor for her failure nor does the mentor hate her student. For one it is not wise to hate your only friend.
