Once upon a time...

once upon a time,

there was a princess.

she lived in no castle,

with no cruel stepmother.

she had short hair,

no cursed 16th birthday.

she had no tail,

no beast that held her captive.

she was locked in a different kind of tower,

with a vicious beast.

she was cursed in a different way.

her curse jumbled her mind,

turning it into porridge.

never just right.

it was always too hot or too cold.

and she could never say a word,

for fear of the queen finding her hidden with the dwarfes.

so she stayed silent,

trapped.

there was no prince in her future,

no boy to save the damsel in distress.

she just had herself.

so she had to make do.