Strong Spirits

A sigh escaped her lips.

Followed by a mumble…

“I’ve always been responsible, independently expected to take care of others as well as my own needs. I’ve never had a freedom to give everything up and just be…”

He turned to look at her.

She spoke on… oblivious to the fact that he was hanging on to her every word…

“Nobody realises that even I can feel weak, that even I can be helpless. They think I can do it all, fix everything, do all that is necessary…”

A tear trickled down her cheek.

“You have no idea how difficult it is… How I have to swallow my desperation, and show everyone the brave face that they think I possess no matter what the time or situation…”

Another tear, and then another…

“I have my feeble moments, too. And the worst thing is I can’t even admit it…”

He held her hand. The trickle gave way to a river. A river of tears that stung his own eyes.

“I can’t admit that I am weak and powerless. That even I am helpless. That there are times when even I, who has a solution for every goddamn thing in the universe, feel lost and miserable…”

She shuddered. He could see the effort it took her, how it drained her, and yet made her feel stronger by confessing. Words that she had never uttered in her life, and probably would never again.

“That there are times when I wish I could lie back and pretend to be frail and vulnerable, and wait for someone else to show me the way. Someone else would protect me and guide me without me having to use my brain, abilities and resources. Be to me, what I am to almost everyone around me. Feel the kind of security and reassurance due to someone else that people near me feel because they have me.”

He hugged her, his eyes moist.

“I’ll be there for you, baby. I’ll take care of you…”

She wept. The dam had broken.

He loved her. And he would never let her down.

The tears flowed on… With relief this time…

- Princess