Breakup (A Fairy Tale)

Once upon a time, there was a princess, who was born in exile. The princess strove to learn the language and culture of her people. When she felt she was about to flower, she returned to her homeland - and never had she felt so lonely. She waited for others to see the beauty of her petals, but they were too focused on the other flowers, and her lilac hues seemed paltry under the Middle Eastern sun - until he came, plucked her by her stem, and kissed her petals; she felt herself open beneath the touch of his fingers. Then, one day, he dropped her: She did not know why, and the soil felt strange beneath her leaves. She grew afraid of her thorns, for they might prick the next man's fingers. Yet soon she found beauty in the brown earth, and grew to cherish the soil's softness against her skin. So she blew love into her petals, and waited for the next stranger to pick her from the forest floor - one who would learn to see the beauty of her thorns.