
The story is now part of a short-story collection available in black-white and coloured prints and as an ebook. I will share the links soon.

The story is now part of a short-story collection available in black-white and coloured prints and as an ebook. I will share the links soon.

She lighted the countless lamps
of the fairytale castle
every night,
hoping for love
of the handsome Prince.
The day she died,
the castle alone mourned–
its halls dark
through the night.
While the Prince cursed
and stumbled around
looking for a trickle of light.
Image by Cody Board on Unsplash

She ate the apple and then slept like never before. All seven of us tried waking her up for days, right from gentle prodding to slapping and buckets of cold water, but to no avail.
After a few days, when the smell became too much (you don’t bathe when you sleep), we put her bed out so that the Sun will take away a bit of smell.
Then this guy came and kissed her. I guess, he was a bit smelly himself after so many days of being lost in the forest, so he didn’t mind the smell. She woke up and demanded to marry him right away! Why? Because he is tall?
Now, that’s a bit outrageous!
We put in all the work, give her food and lodging, take care of her while she is sleeping, bear with the smell… Then, one sunny day, he comes in on the horseback and he is all she wants? Because he is tall?
He is lost in the forest, dirty and smelly, and doesn’t know his way back home or how to put a cottage together. And still he gets the girl! Because he is tall?
Life is so unfair!