What I Once Called Love: The Drafts

Fighting the Fairy Tale

When we were young, we had the world in the palms of our intertwined hands. You were my best friend, my knight in shining armor, who was unafraid to battle on my behalf to show others I was worthy of defending. I had nothing to prove to you, but you had everything to prove to me.

I had been raised as an outsider, one who must demonstrate her abilities to gain favor with our community. You, on the other hand, were widely accepted as everyone's favorite. Your platinum blond hair shined nearly as bright as your politician smile in the sunlight, winning over the majority of the girls in our kindergarten class.

Everyone wanted to be close to you, but you wanted me instead. I was confused by that; no beloved prince associates themselves with the wicked witch, yet here you were.

You continued your plight of drawing near to my side, your presence calming my chaos. I refused to give up all of my schemes to coincide with your reputation so you decided to join me in the trouble I created. We had found a rhythm with one another, and each day brought us closer and closer together until eventually we were attached at the hip.

Our parents quite often teased us about the possibility of a love story, but we didn't care. Our story was in the moments we shared, and we hoped it would always be like that.

As the sun set on the horizon of our childhood, we grew into a new phase. We wore crushes like hand-me-downs, the timing of it all never fitting quite right. Occasionally, I found myself craving conversations, but you were occupied being the same busy body you've always been. I found out later that you too caught yourself questioning the potential of more, but you knew what that could result in. It was like we had silently agreed that no torrid love affair was worth destroying what we had spent our whole lives creating.

Life happened, and we grew apart physically whilst our friendship remained rooted in foundation of our identities. Even now, I know that if a war darkened our doors and threatened the bond we built, you would stand at my side in your shining armor ready to slay whatever dragons came our way. The world is still in the palms of our hands, and the future is ours for the taking.