Mystery of the Misplaced Prince Charming

[ServinGsus]

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a girl. She was an average girl: young, idealistic, optimistic, and full of romantic dreams. Away in the wonderful land of Collegiate Endeavors, she began to explore her identity, her goals, and her dreams. Anything seemed possible in this amazing world far away from curfews, high school stigmas, and embarrassing pictures of her in diapers that were often displayed by her mother at inopportune moments. The girl had hopes for a bright academic future, the forging of life long friendships, and perhaps a chance encounter with Prince Charming, or at the very least, Casanova.

It wasn't long before the girl found her niche with a small group of friends. They were all interesting people, from exciting lands far beyond the border of her hometown. The friends became a close unit, often anticipating each other's thoughts and sharing each other's dreams. Though the girl reveled in this closeness, she still held close dreams of a dashing young prince rushing in to sweep her out of the clutches of Mundane Reality.

One day she met him. It was a chance encounter. He joined her group of friends and life seemed brighter. But because the prince was traveling incognito, neither the girl nor her friends realized the identity of the newcomer. Soon, the girl began receiving gifts of flowers, precious bouquets wrought with meaning in the language of flora. She found beautiful notes tucked between the blooms. The girl often found the newcomer lurking near by, waiting to make her day brighter with any little act of service he might bestow upon her. However, none of this turned her head as she continued to search for the elusive prince she knew must be somewhere.

One day, it became clear. How she could have missed that the newcomer, the very one so eager to brighten her day, was the prince she was unsure. But she knew that he was. One day, in the middle of the summer heat at an hour nearing the glorious sunset, the prince and the girl were married. However, it did not end there with a Happily Ever After, for every story continues ... but not every story teller reveals the truth of what comes next.

For several years the girl lived in wedded bliss with her prince. Their castle was small yet charming, in a nondescript sort of way; they thought it perfect for a newly wed couple. Their chariot was more of an optimistic attempt at transportation, yet in their state of infatuation, neither noticed any shortcomings. Her cooking skills left much to be desired, but in his state of Young Love, the prince thought that each and every meal was the result of gourmet excellence. He was especially fond of her Macaroni and Cheese. They often recall their early days with secret smiles and delicate blushes.

It was in those days that the girl realized just how sweet Prince Charming really was. She found herself often whisked away for a weekend, or woken up on a Saturday morning to a heavenly massage. There were flowers, and love notes, and candle lit picnics. There was dancing to music heard only by the two of them, handheld walks in the rain, and sunsets at the beach. There were grand gestures of love, sweet acts of friendship, and cherished moments of intimacy.

And then one day the prince went missing. There was still a man there, a husband if you will. And their family had grown from two to three to four. Surrounded in her castle by the pitter patter of little feet, the girl was deliriously happy and it took her a long time to realize that life was not as it once was. She kissed her husband one evening as she was serving dinner and it hit her. This could not be her prince charming. Gone were the flowers, the notes, the massages, the quiet walks and stolen weekends. In fact, it had been so long since she had done anything other than fall into bed exhausted, that she didn't even know when it was that she had last rolled over to gaze at PC in bed.

The girl began to worry. Where had he gone? What had she done? Why this substitute? What did it all mean? Where was her Happily Ever After? Had Cupid had his joke and been done with her? Oh, no!

The girl began to search high and low. She dug within herself to find that girl who had looked at life with wide open eyes in the land of Collegiate Endeavors. She remembered with wistfulness the strong arms that had whisked her away from Mundane Reality. And she pondered wtih longing the romantic gestures she had inspired in her prince. And then it hit her!

The gestures were still there, just different. The prince was still there, just different. And the girl was still there, only she was now a mother. The romantic gestures had changed from givng flowers to washing dishes. The getaways were no longer weekends, but hidden moments. The love notes were now found on shopping lists instead of cards, and the music they danced to was the laughter of children.

No, the prince was not missing as she had assumed, nor was her Happily Ever After. Instead, she had new eyes with which to see the turns of life and a woman's heart to accept the tokens of love that so few recognized.

[mimismommy]

Feb. 14, 2009 at 7:44 PM

Did you write that? Very sweet. Nice ending.

[ServinGsus]

Feb. 14, 2009 at 9:35 PM

Yup, it's me =)  I think I enjoy writing more than just about anything else right now; it helps me think in words bigger than "potty" and "tummy" and "night-night", LOL.  Thanks!

(Original Poster)