Beastly Beauty

Forty-Three

The princess in the glass coffin isn’t really dead.

She’s just pretending.

She likes it inside the glass. It’s quiet and safe. She can watch the world go by through half-closed eyes.

The ugly stepsisters like being single.

They tangle their hair into nests and wear their dead father’s shoes.

They rub ink on their teeth, then grin at the prince and laugh when he runs.

And Rapunzel? She could leave her tower anytime she wanted to.

All she has to do is cut off her braid and tie it to a chair.

Don’t think she hasn’t thought about it.

But like the others, she stays.

Because she’s afraid she will never be loved.

And more afraid that she will.