Fairy Tales

Tears still stained her cheeks and her eyes burned from lack of sleep. The escape she craved would not come quickly tonight. Elizabeth rose from the bed, silk sliding luxuriously over her hips, pooling gently at her bare feet. She knew without looking that her girls were fast sleep, curled up together in the same bed despite each having their own. In the same way, Liz was keenly aware of the fact that her husband now slept soundly somewhere else. Their bed was cold. Lonely. Empty. Fresh tears pricked at her eyes. Once upon a time, she believed in fairy tales. That there were happy endings. That good things happened to good people. ...now she knows better... There is no knight on his white steed, riding to rescue his damsel in distress. There is no fairy godmother waiting in the wings, ready to waive her wand and magic everything right. No. Those elusive happy endings had to be earned and sometimes, their price was too much to bear. Once upon a time, though, she believed. She could still recall the good times, ones not so very long ago. Joyous moments of better times were still frozen somewhere in her memories. Snapshots of their wedding day. Of the girls being born. Their first ballet recital. Precious moments with their arms wrapped around her neck, eyes full of the unconditional love that only a child can show their parent. Their sweet boy...Jake...Who was with them too short a time. Who still has a special place in her heart. Who still remains a source of both happiness and crushing sorrow. Despite the choking ache that clenched her heart, somehow she found strength within herself to wake up every morning, get out of bed and try to smile. Like most wounds, the pain fades with time. Sometimes nonexistent. Other days, the pain was as strong and fresh as in the beginning. The charms she wears about her wrist - when she bothers with such things at all - serve as a constant reminder of what never was and what would never be. But every so often, she allows herself to wonder what if. Maybe one day, she'd feel that joy again. That they would find their way back together. Because deep down, she still wants to believe in fairy tales. In happy endings... And most of all, that one is waiting for her.