A Fairytale

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess that lived in an ivory tower. She had everything she ever wanted…except people because she was all alone. She had never known it any other way. One day it was raining and she heard a noise outside like she had never heard before. There was someone outside blowing a trumpet. They were looking for shelter from the rain and hoping someone would hear. The princess had no idea how to help them or let them in. You see this tower had only one window and no doors…

No, it’s not your beloved Rapunzel. Sounds similar, but there is no witch or prince involved. Just a girl who had everything she ever wanted. Then she found something she didn’t have and wanted. People.

But I want to go back to the beginning of the story. A princess who had everything she ever wanted. I imagine she must have a stunning tower, made of ivory of course. It would be large, yes, with a huge open window in which she would have a beautiful view over looking… a beach. Yes, a private beach. Not only does she have an amazing view, but the perfect amount of sea breeze could flow into her ivory tower so she could smell the waters and would make her sheer curtains flow with the rhythm of the wind. The most intriguing art would hang from her walls. Art that expressed her heart and also made her think of many things. She would have an endless supply of books that taught her everything (because in fairytale land you can do that). The birds were her friends because they were the only creatures that could make it up to window. She learned music through the birds and from the voices of the sea. Her wardrobe was to die for with diamonds to always make her glow.

The princess was happy with the things she had, but she knew she was alone. She longed for the people in the books that she would read. Deep down she thought she was not meant for that place, that beautiful ivory tower, but she couldn’t fathom what else she was meant for. The princess couldn’t think about it very much because it would make her sad. When she was sad she would make herself dance against the warm breeze that flowed into her tower until she forgot her sorrows.

Then one day, her life forever changed. She heard a different tune than nature had ever made, and a sight that was strangely familiar. It was familiar because it was other people, just like her! When she realized they needed shelter from the rain she didn’t know what to do. But she called out to the strangers to let them know she heard them. But to her dismay, she didn’t know what to do to help them. There was no door for them to come inside the tower. There were no stairs for her to run down and find them. Her hair was nowhere near long enough to use as a rope. She was stuck and miserable.

But then the princess had an idea. She beckoned the strangers to come to the tower. She then gathered as many things she could think of to help them. Blankets, umbrellas, cushions, sheets and food were all thrown out from her window. She didn’t care how beautiful or what they meant to her, this was her one chance to help people. To see them, to know them. The strangers were so thankful for her help. They were able to keep dry and full. When the rain stopped they thanked her for all her help and went on their way.

The princess was no longer sad. She dreamed of being able to go away from her beautiful tower, but then she thought to herself, “What if someone else needs help again and no one is here to help them?” So the princess stayed happy. She saw her purpose in life. It wasn’t to go anywhere and do anything really, but to do what she could with what she had been given (yet she never knew where it kept coming from).

*I had a friend text me this story because I guess she was curious as to how I would finish it. Either that or she was trying to get me to write.