"There's No Use Crying About It"

The castle is in sight -

Weathered and dark but no less a sanctuary.

Bold and strong I take to the path

Old fear trailing behind me like a cape to be untied and cast aside.

I drop it on the forest floor aware that it will slink behind me,

Let it, I think as I forge ahead.

For a while I elude it as I focus on the spires,

Then I trip.

No matter, I'm still moving forward.

But delighting in my misstep the cape glides faster, gaining speed,

Winding around my ankles like a snake it takes me down.

My heart races

"I'll crawl if I have to" I whisper, through deliberate concentrated breaths,

Though I hear it laughing as it looms over me  - 

It's covered my face like a veil before I can rip it away.

Gasping for the cool fresh air near the ground I take it down with me.

Angrily I ball it up and hurl it off the path.

I sit on the ground watching hot tears fall on the gravel -

I'm tired

The path is too long 

I'm tired 

The cape a relentless albatross 

I'm tired

I can lie here and not have to fight anymore 

So. tired.

A voice flying through the night air calls "Momma!"

The princess waiting at the castle.

I pick up my head to look at it,

Beaten and battered and standing tall,

Dark but no less a sanctuary.

Ignoring the tears I stand,

Let them fall,

They bounce off a metal object glowing in moonlight -

Tarnished and dented but no less a crown.

I place it on my head.

Brushing off dirt and gravel I take a step,

Then another

Straight towards the castle.

Weathered and beaten it beckons me.

I'll reach it scarred and battle weary,

Cape at my feet,

But no less a queen.

- Christa Rowan
(With a nod to Halsey)