The Tale of a Mad King

Chapter 9

The days came and went but that made no difference to Alexander. After Aiden's outburst, Alexander went into a deeper depression than ever before. The king had become completely unresponsive. All he did was lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. If it wasn't for the handmaids forcing him up to feed and bathe him he would've died surrounded by his own filth. Aiden gave up trying to care for Alexander deciding to instead focus completely on the children. Aiden couldn't handle Alexander's delusions anymore. It was tearing him apart from the inside out having to hear about HER every time he started to heal. It was killing him to have to wake up every day knowing he couldn't save her. He never should've gone with Alexander on that trip. If he could go back in time he wouldn't have. There are many things Aiden regrets but most of all he regrets not telling Leah how he felt. Aiden's hair had become unkempt since Leah disappeared. His eyes while nowhere near as bad as the kings were sunken in. He didn't bother with his clothes leaving them wrinkled and stained. Fashion didn't interest him anymore. He had no one to impress so why try at all.

The entire kingdom felt the passing of their beloved queen. There wasn't a day that went by she wasn't mourned. The people respected their queen greatly. Her kind and gentle heart touched many. Even after all these years the kingdom still loved their queen. They felt sorry for their king. Seeing him in such a state after losing a loved one made them hold theirs even closer. Alexander's hair grew so unruly the handmaid's debated cutting it all off but decided against it. Instead, they continue to trim it to a proper length just above his shoulders. One day, while Alexander was laying Victoria came into the room and sat beside him on his bed. "Daddy?" She says with a quiet voice. Alexander slowly looks over to her but doesn't say anything. Victoria looks down and plays with the stack of papers in her hand before speaking again. "I found these papers. I-I think mommy wrote on them. It looks like mommy's handwriting but I'm not sure." Victoria softly places the letters on her father's chest. "Do you think you could read them to me? I would read them myself but they're too many big words I can't understand." She looks down twiddling her thumbs awaiting her father's answer. She hoped he couldn't tell she was lying. She could read it perfectly. She just wanted some time with her dad.

Slowly moving his hand Alexander shakily picks up the papers. Lo and behold it was Leah's messy handwriting. He remembered her telling him she liked writing poetry but he was too stupid to try and read it. Leah's handwriting was messy but not too hard to read. He wonders why Victoria can't read it. Victoria is a smart girl, big words never bothered her before, why would they now? Alexander doesn't question her though not wanting to scare her away. "I would love to sweetie." He spoke for the first time in months. His voice was raspy and low. Victoria thinks for a moment that he sounds like a frog. The thought almost makes her laugh. Alexander opens his arms for Victoria to crawl into. Curling up on her father's chest she smiles contently. As Alexander begins to read his throat aches from being neglected for so long. The poem reads:

"If I tell you I love you, I may fall apart.
For the love that I feel is not what's in your heart.
I'd ask you to give us a chance even if just for a day.
But I fear that my love for you may scare you away.
They say love has no limits I say neither does the pain.
For loving someone who does not love you back is
more excruciating than anyone can explain."

Alexander continues reading the many poems Leah wrote. Some of them like the first one, others a lot happier. Reading all of these gave Alexander an indescribable feeling. He felt guilty for putting Leah through so much pain but he also felt pride. Pride that she was able to turn such horrible pain into art. Alexander wishes he could do that. Turn the pain that he is feeling into something good. By the time he was done reading all of the poems, Victoria had fallen asleep. Alexander smiles down at her, he missed this. Ever since her birthday three years ago Victoria has been a lot quieter and reserved. Alexander doesn't blame her for that, who knows what type of horrible things she witnessed that night. Softly stroking her hair an idea suddenly makes its way into Alexander's head. He wasn't going to sit and mope anymore. It's been three years, it's time to move on.