Sleepless Sleeping Beauty

Reflected in the dusty mirror, Neola could see her weary face, clouded in sorrows and fading lines. Her golden brown eyes trace her image up and down. She stretch her tired hand up to her face, feeling the rough texture. Is that really her? Is that the face she has been living with? She turns away, unable to look at herself any longer.

Instead she turn her view to her antiquated home where almost everything are covered in dust. Mildews on her dresser, cobwebs between the doors, around the ceilings, and dirt layered on the cobbled stone walls and floors. It has been many years since she was first brought out here in this remote place with only few of her servants accompanying her. The years had passed so quickly, she could barely remembered what she did.

She parts the faded curtains to see the sun peeking out of the horizon. She yawns, then sighs as her lips turn to a frown. Another day ends but what will tomorrow bring but another disappointing arrow through her lonely heart?

Neola lay back down in her warm bed, pulling the sheets up to her chest, ready to sleep another day away. She closes her sleepy eyes but her mind continued to stay awake. Underneath her dark eyelids, there was peace. Only sleep.

She had spent many restless nights walking the dark halls exhausted but wide awake. Everyone around her were in various stages of sleep, some even laying on the floor, eyes half closed as if to remind her that the world had forgotten them. They will not be tending to her needs anymore. Neola makes sure they are comfort even as their body resisted the urge to stay awake. Often she would cover them in blankets whenever the nights gets too cold. The wind often sweeps through the thinning walls like sandstorms. Even the days blended together as if they too had forgotten themselves.

She wakes up a moment later but doesn't know why. She check the sky and saw the sun had settled into darkness. The moon hides behind sycamore trees. She watches the fading sparkles that framed the dark sky. Once she had made a wish on one of those tiny dots on a very cold night much like tonight. It wasn't anything too hard to forfill but her wish had gone unanswered.

Should she get dress? She started to call out her chambermaid's name but stop when she realized she would not come to her. Even if she did, she would not have the energy to help her. Neola falls to her knees, sadden by the thought.

If no one had come in the hundred years that she had waited, what are the chances they would come now? She sob into her silk gown, too tired to even think. The tears came down so often and yet they still refused to leave her. Another hundred years, what would it matter?

She had pictured so many times what she would say or do if someone did come but those images had long since dissipated in the clouds. She has no more energy for dreaming, not every daydreams.

By the time Neola stopped crying, morning has come. She lift her head up to a splash of sunlight, almost blinding her. Pressing her hands on the window sill to steady herself, she pulls herself up and wipes the last tears off her cheeks.

Something is out there. She can see a blue blur moving, coming near. She try to focus her eyes but the bright sunlight flare out her view. She shade her eyes with her hand but only saw the blurry blue coming closer and closer. Then her heart almost burst out of her skin when she realized what it was.

She runs around the castle, almost skipping, shouting for everyone to wake up. Then she saw what she was wearing and race to back to her room. She will wear her favorite dress, the one with the blue laces and white bows, that always makes her feel the most beautiful. Excitement jump around in her mind. The day has come! It has finally come! One hundred years wasn't such a long way. No, not long at all.


3WW: Picture, Reflected, Stop