Stepmother’s Narrative-
In a land of sin and pure, the sinners have nearly saturated the entire town with their presence. Their dark deeds have eclipsed the Kingdom of Sun with their shadows. In the calm hours of sundown, a brawl suddenly breaks out in a bar and men kill men; a woman fights another woman on petty issues. Such barbaric has our land become. Out in the open, in the eye of the public, no care is taken of who snatches whose right. And in this regard, what happens behind the curtains is beyond appalling.
Moreover, things have spun so badly out of control that there is no respect left for relationships as well. The ancestors had spoken about such a future in hushed tones long back ago. They must have noticed the blue blood of the royal kingdom turn black with impure intentions at some points. Only the impact of it had to grow up to becoming a thriving monster.
Days, when daughters would be stolen and locked were also predicted. As were nights, when melancholy will paint the town and crime would be committed under the hood of the dark hours. But my child Rapunzel fails to see it all or understand it one bit.
I spend hours trying to pour some sense into her by narrating the vile incidents at the streets, in the bar, and in the middle of the market but to no avail. My daughter only sees that I am not her mother by blood and therefore, not her well wisher. She sees my actions, not my intentions and this is where I fail miserably.
She does not see that despite the fact that I keep her locked in a room in an abandoned tower, I love her more than anything. Some freedoms are better kept chained then let loose for when they are unchained; they only spread hurt and pain to the hearts of the weak. But does my girl ever understand? No.
She’s adamant that my stories are nothing but lies. Even though I make efforts to show her my love but either I am not expressive enough, or Rapunzel has a different definition of love. She’s particularly fond of flowers and vibrant paints. And I do all that I have to do to get those fresh for her from the market every day.
Under the sweltering sun of the midday, I rush to get berries for her that I then squeeze into paints. Strawberries and raspberries are her favorites as they make the loveliest shades of red. Before Rapunzel even sees her color jars empty, I fill them up so she can play with colors as much as she wants. So she doesn’t lose her sanity and remains ail and healthy.
But, the child only sees her captivity and her separation from her mother. I expand all the love a mother gives to her daughter. Still, the tower remains a wall between us. To save her from the evil lurking on the outside, I am bound to keep her locked and hidden. Even if it kills me day by day, inch by inch.
