Disavowed

By Susan Gale Wickes

The silver spoon had tarnished long ago, but he still carried it in his pocket. Even the needle could no longer distinguish his blue blood. The path had been laid out, but he’d traded it for one more dance with the devil.

Earlier this month, he’d waved as the royal motorcade passed, but they turned away.

Now, in a rare moment of clarity, his thoughts traveled homeward. For one fleeting moment, laughter filled the room. Then pleasure gave way to pain and pain became pleasure.

He didn’t need their fairy tale. He would die a common man. He closed his eyes.