A Disney Ever After

Truly I Am Sorry

Aurora and I left the castle later that day, getting into the huge white carriage that was much too extravagant for my taste, but was perfect for Aurora.

Once we were settled the obvious tension in the carriage began to wrap it's hands around my neck, suffocating me. All I wanted to do was jump out and run back to Flynn, but I couldn't. Not until he ended it with Rapunzel. I took the chance of glancing at her tear streaked face only to find anger mixed with sadness on her face. My stomach did a backflip and my lip began to quiver. "I'm sorry," I found myself saying, unable to make eye contact.

"Don't. Look at me," she turned her head and looked me in the eyes, "I don't want your apologies. It's over." She turned back to the window, fixing her gaze on something off in the distance.

"Okay, I won't apologize; I just want to know why you're so sad about... whatever this is being over. Neither of us were happy with this marriage! Why are you so upset about the inevitable?"

A single tear cascaded down her cheek. "I don't know why you think I thought this was a bad marriage," she turned from the window, "I loved what we had, as fucked up as it was, I loved it because it was ours. I thought you did too." She rubbed the tears across her cheeks and waited for a reply that would not come for some time.

Finally I said, "I did... used to like it, I mean. I used to love playing games with you, calling you names, running away from each other, but those days have grown stale. After awhile I grew tired of the games. I needed to rule the kingdom, and I needed you by my side, but all you wanted to do was play games. When I stopped, these games became abusive and mean, the names became harsher, the running continued, even when I needed you for an important matter. I grew tired of the games and then, after a while, I grew tired of you."

She covered her eyes with the palms of her hands and began to sob. Through her sobs she choked out, "I-I'm sorry for e-everything. Truly, I am sorry."

I dropped my gaze to the beautiful oak of the carriage floor to give her as much privacy as I could in the enclosed space. We sat for quite a long time, her sobbing, and me wanting to say anything, everything to make her stop. "I'm sorry too," I finally said, "for the way I treated you in front of everyone at the steps. I shouldn't have belittled you in front of them. It was the worst thing I could do and I am extremely sorry for treating you like that."

It seemed as if she hadn't heard what I said, so I turned and looked through the window. Outside I saw the most colorful countryside. It was like a rainbow had decided to lay down and nap. Every color possible was on the rolling hills of the land. I turned my head and looked out the other window and I saw a beautiful sea, stretching all the way to the horizon. It was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. "This land is beautiful," I said to her.

"It is," she agreed, "it's a welcoming sight after all that we've been through... I accept your apology." At that she fell silent. We sat, listening to the wheels of the carriage turn, until we reached our castle. I let her out first, following on her heels. We walked side-by-side into our castle, only speaking to each other to say goodnight.

I walked to a guest bedroom and opened the door. I can't just leave her I thought what will she do when I'm gone? I stepped inside of the room and shut the door. I had no idea she thought we were okay. How could I have yelled at her when all she cared about was my safety? I stripped to my boxers and crawled under the covers, glad to be in a bed.

A few minutes went by before the loneliness set in. I found myself wishing Flynn was here to help me sleep, but he was back in Corona and I was here, alone. I struggled for many hours before I got up and walked to my old bedroom, where Aurora slept. I pushed the door open and tiptoed over to my old side of the bed. I lifted the sheets and slipped in between them and the bed.

Knowing that someone was there made it easier to fall asleep. As I drifted off to sleep I felt something like a kiss land on my forehead but before I could react the struggles of the day overwhelmed me and I fell into a deep, restful sleep.