When I was a little girl, I believed in fairy tales. I believed in princes and princesses and knights in shining armor. I believed in forever and happily ever afters. I was ten when reality hit me. My mom brought the evil home with her and there was no escaping it. That's when I learned that fairy tales were just that: fairy tales. The bad stuff is real, though. The difference is that I now know that the monsters and evil villains don't always wear capes and ugly scars. No: most of the time, they appear normal. I'm drowning in reality, in my life, and I've given up hope that a knight in shining armor will rescue me. But maybe... maybe I don't need a Prince Charming after all. Maybe a knight without the shining armor and a broken smile will be enough to save me. *Please note this is only a five chapter sample of the published book.

"Another thing, promise me....." I swallowed the lump in my throat. My tears and his were falling, betraying our facade and showing the pain we were desperately trying to hide. I can do this. This is for him and for me. I took my hand from him and kissed him for the last time. Thanking him for making me happy and for giving me his child. "...promise me, that we'll never meet again..." That time, I let go of my fantasies, my memories and my happiness. I let go of my fairytale and my happily ever after.