Sleepless Nights || Short Stories for Those that cant sleep...

Story 3: What Once Was Mine

" Home is whenever I'm with you. "

The fear of falling in love with someone so looked down on was common in the royal family. 

Even worse, if it was of the same gender. 

Kaden didn't even know what love felt like, until after she met the maid of her newly wedded, forced, husband. Although she despised him, she had to do what any member of the royal blood had to. 

The maid was different. There was something about her that was special. It was like she was an undiscovered gem, like going to a pub one night to hear the most beautiful song you've ever heard. But the song was so looked down on, that its beauty only showed to those fortunate enough. 

The day it changed her life. One moment she was drinking tea and then the next she was running through the dark halls barefoot with the maid. They ran to the docks, gasping for breath and laughing to themselves. The rush of adrenaline was so fresh to her and nostalgic. This mysterious woman made her feel so alive, as if her heart was beating for herself, and not anyone else. 

The moonlight lit up the cloudy sea. It was a rough night. The waves were relaxed but every now and then there would be a spike of excitement. 

The two locked eyes, their hands still interlocked. " Thank you." Kaden whispered. 

" For what? " The girl asked. 

" For giving me a reason to keep my heart beating. " 

--

Kaden and her newly wed had gotten into another argument. He was angry that she treated the girl with so much respect. Or perhaps it was because she didn't show the same respect for him. 

He stormed out, leaving Kaden by herself sitting next to the windowsill. 

" Why do you still stay here?" The lovely and soft voice of the maid asked. 

Kaden didn't bother to look at her, keeping her eyes trained on the village below her. She envied the people who could be whoever they wanted to be without their family breathing down their neck. 

" Run away with me. " 

Those next words made Kaden lock eyes with the beautiful girl. " Run away? " 

" Yes. We could live in a small cottage, fair away. With animals and plants... and just us. " The girl smiled. 

Kaden smiled, for the first time, hope took over her emotions. The thought of leaving all of this behind, indulging in the adrenaline and the feeling of alive, with her. 

" I think that's a great idea. " Kaden smiled, and the two girls giggled. 

And so they did. The two ran hand in hand, into the dark abyss clouded with a cold breeze. 

Missing posters were put up all around the kingdom. The king refused to believe that they had ran away together, but deep down he knew.

The two sat in front of a pond, a lit lantern off to the side. They sat spread out on the grass. " Are we going to stay here forever?" The princess asked. 

" If you wish to." The maid turned on her side to look at her. 

" Yes I do. After death, even after eternity. " The two giggled. 

" We'll reincarnate into the grass below us, so our souls are forever together. " The maid said, earning giggles from the two again. " This is our home."

" Home is whenever I'm with you. " Kaden replied and the two girls embraced. 

Some say you can hear the sounds of the couple running through the dim light halls, giggling and squealing with excitement. The King passed away, and so the royal family's bloodline discontinued. The kingdom was left with nothing but to hope for the princess to return.