Sincerely, Alyson ✔️

XIV | Queen Of Sludge

Friday 26th of July

Dear Manny,

My days feel like hell, but my nights are far worse than I could have ever imagined. This is the time when I need my prince charming the most... so how long will it take for him to come rescue me?

I always hated being the damsel in distress, you know that. I used to scoff at those girls in books, all weepy and helpless, waiting around in towers. I wanted to be the sword-wielder, the monster-fighter.

But whenever trouble actually arose, I became your silly damsel in distress anyway and you always showed up.

Do you remember that summer when we were eleven and I got stuck in the storm drain behind the school?

I don't even remember how it happened.

We were chasing that stupid paper crown you made from notebook scraps, pretending we were royalty from rival kingdoms.

You dared me to climb down and get it.

"I triple dare you, Alyson the Brave," you had jested, like that would make me fearless suddenly.

I was desperate to be who you thought I was, so of course, I went and unsurprisingly, I slipped.

It wasn't deep, not really, but the angle was steep, and I panicked the second I felt myself slide.

I scraped my knees, dropped the silly paper crown, and started crying even though I tried really hard not to.

My leg throbbed and the world suddenly felt a lot scarier than our silly make-believe game.

You didn't laugh and you didn't tease me at all just simply dropped to your knees at the edge and whispered, "Hey, it's okay. I've got you. Just like always."

You reached down with both hands and hauled me out like some mini superhero. You were so small but so sure like nothing bad could happen on your watch.

I remember hugging you too tightly while I shook. You didn't pull away, just patted my back and whispered, "I'll always get you out. Promise."

We went back to your place after that, and your mum cleaned my knees while you kept distracting me with jokes about how the storm drain was a portal to another kingdom and I was lucky I got out before they crowned me the Queen of Sludge.

That day sticks with me.

It's not because of the crown, or the drain, or the scraped knees but because I knew even then: when things went sideways, I could count on you.

So where are you now, Manny?

Where's my storm drain rescue?

I don't want to be a damsel, but tonight I feel a little hopeless without you. I need someone to tell me it'll be okay and that I'm not stuck here forever, bruised and aching, waiting for things to get better.

I need you to always used to come when I needed you most.

So, when will you come back?

I'll be waiting as usual.

Sincerely,
Alyson.