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The Hidden Princess

by Sarah Wilson, Scarborough, Canada, Age 18

Once upon a time in a land far away
There lived a young princess, but no one knew her name
She spent her life hiding inside of her castle
Too scared to see the world and its dangers and its hassles

She'd wake up in the morning and comb her shiny hair
After an uneventful day out the window she would stare
She'd watch the busy people walk in and out of town
Imagining she was on those streets, no longer looking down

Yet her fantasy wasn't conceived by need
It was born from wonder, from dreams
But every once in a while she'd see something sad
Like a purse being stolen or a family without a Dad

And then she would crawl under her soft velvet sheets
Remembering why she never wished to walk those tainted streets
Then one sweet day without any warning
She saw a man surrounded by the sunlit morning

His beauty was remarkable, his strength she could have guessed
She'd met many handsome men, but he was by far the best
Her instinct forced her from her home
To confront her remedy for being alone

With widened eyes the princess was pleased
And the stranger was shocked, he couldn't believe
That the long lost princess came out of her home
To meet with him and him alone

The princess got her way as she usually did
Her fears disappeared; she flew when she was with him
No longer did she spend her life hiding in the shadows
She walked around town; she ate fast-food and wandered through green meadows

She quickly fell in love, first friends and then lovers
Promising forever and good will toward each other
She made friends with other boys and girls her own age
They had fun and threw a party when the princess got engaged

With a bundle of friends all whom she trusted
The princess had evolved, the princess had adjusted
Ready to take the next step, she did so without a fear
Not expecting to stumble, or shed any tears

But one day the princess’ best friend told a lie
How fast the rumour spread to every girl and guy
Hurt by such an unknown pain, the princess told the truth
Yet everyone believed the lie because there was no proof

Extremely hurt by mistrust and deceit
The princess ran back to her castle promising never to leave
She slid into her king sized bed, her tears flooded her floor
Her heart was broken, her eyes were puffy, and she put locks on all of the doors

She came to the conclusion that love was not a factor
She believed it was impossible to live happily ever after
Once again she confined herself inside the castle walls
Looking out the window every once in a while, ignoring her lover's calls

She spent days in bed, soon weeks and more
Than one day she heard a knock at her door
She didn't answer yet the person came in
She turned over to yell but her voice was stolen, the intruder was her prince

He jumped on her bed and wiped away tears
He reassured her of all of her fears
She told him she loved him, but her life was too small
To live a life beyond the castle's walls
His love for her was so strong that he left the world behind
To commit to his love, to live a life confined

They lived happily every after in that castle years ago
Known as the prince and princess that no one seemed to know