I was twelve the first time the fairy tale shimmered. Poison is deadly if you use it right. We were lucky…the apple spoiled.
At sixteen, the façade cracked. At seventeen, it shattered. Families don’t always stay together. Parents aren’t super heroes. They are vulnerable. Real. They make mistakes. They get sick. Childhood ends.
I was nineteen the first time I lost what I thought would make me whole. Twenty when it was forced upon me. Twenty-one when I had my first child.
At thirty-one, poison is real. Tangible. Parents die, words can kill, and fairy tales are for the blind.
Too bad the illusions of childhood, and the wonder of fairly tales have to die in the face of grown-up reality. A wonderful little tale of the way life often turns out as we grow older.
This is deeply affecting, lyrical and poetic.
What a fascinating way to describe life….I liked it.
It is amazing how much can be said in so few words.
And also amazing what can be said without directly saying what it is. You’ve done a beautiful job capturing the harsh realities some have to face with just 101 words.
Beautiful, well done. I actually came back for the fifth or sixth time just to ponder over your sentences. Well done.
Insightful and cleverly crafted. I, too, mused over it several times to fully appreciate your words.