Tragedy

I used to have a dream.

I used to want to live in a fairy tale

with a happily-ever-after

perfect ending.

In my dreams,

I was the princess.

Guess who the prince was?

Yeah, him.

I sat in the dust

playing with my words

trying to tune out

the gnawing

aching

loneliness.

Then he came along

and saw through the filth on my face.

Plucked me from the mud

and made me beautiful.

Made me perfect.

Fairy-tale perfect.

Happily-ever-after perfect.

And he led me along the path

to that shining ending.

That's where he dumped me

in the festering sludge

after dragging me along so far.

Dumped

so he could run off--

not with a princess,

not to adventure,

not to learn the mysteries of the world.

Ran off with his ego, he did.

Arrogant fool.

Not him.

Me.

Arrogant to think

he could love me.

Arrogant and foolish,

so naive indeed.

Foolish country bumpkin

playing the princess's role.

I played the part,

now I pay the toll.

Tax on my heart

and charge on my pride

to watch him away

to another's side.

Wonders pondered,

lesson learned.

There's no such thing as

happily ever after.