A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...
Much before the advent of modern marvels such as the internet, electric cars, and mobile phones, a precocious and somewhat introverted child discovered books. And boy, what an absofuckinglutely fabulous discovery that was!
From the time I first learned to read, I have NEVER stopped. Over the years, books have been My constant companion. They have been a source of solace, a refuge when life gets too overwhelming, and also My happy place.
I had a HUGE collection of books as a child and read everything from Mr. Men to Enid Blyton with some Tin Tin and Astrix thrown in for good measure. But My two favorite books were these giant volumes of Fairy Tales, each one the size of an encyclopedia. (Extra points if you know what that is.)
The running theme in most of the stories was the same...
Brave and noble characters who manage to overcome insurmountable challenges, defeat all enemies, learn (and teach us, the readers) some valuable life lessons and then go on to live happily ever after.
Years later, I saw a similar theme in countless Romcoms...
( Don't judge Me, I'm also an avid Horror and Sci- Fi aficionado.)
Girl meets boy in some sort of cute meet. They fall in love. Some kind of conflict arises which momentarily puts their relationship in jeopardy, a life-changing moment, a "grand gesture," and an epic closing scene where they kiss and go on to live "happily ever after."
But life doesn't work that way.
In life, a broken but loving girl meets a strong and noble boy who didn't know he was damaged. Their souls recognized each other even before they did, and they marveled at how seamlessly they morphed from friends into lovers, and into so much more.
Into everything.
Until She didn't know where She ended and he began.
Until He loved Her as unceasingly and as effortlessly as the beating of his heart.
They faced all challenges together and defeated all odds, always acknowledging and being grateful for how strong their relationship was.
But there were were fissures lurking just the below the surface.
Fissures which eventually grew bigger until they cracked open and unleashed a torrent of pain that engulfed them both, almost causing them to drown.
Because while their love for each other was unconditional, fierce, and all encompassing...
Their love for themselves was not.
And herein lay the error.
They were intensely focused on fixing a relationship that wasn't broken, when what they needed to fix was themselves.
They realized that if they wanted to survive they would have to do it alone. Because an empty cup cannot fill another, and in times of imminent danger, one must don their own life jacket before they can help anyone else.
Or they both end up drowning.
And what kind of an ending is that?
So, with broken hearts and wounded souls they set off on separate paths and walked on alone.
But the Girl and the boy, although damaged and broken, were also strong and valiant.
And they didn't give up.
Not on themselves and not on each other.
Until one day their paths grew closer, and they could walk side by side, still separate, but close enough to offer a steadying hand when one of them stumbled.
And they walked.
And they stumbled.
And he forgot who he was.
And She told him it didn't matter, because he could be whoever the fuck he wanted to be.
And She fell.
Hard.
And he picked Her up.
Fiercely.
And they healed, separately and together, and discovered they were even stronger than they knew, and so was their love.
Then one day their separate paths merged into one, and so reclaiming each other's hand, they continued to walk on.
Two perfectly imperfect and beautifully broken souls, who know the path ahead won't be easy, and that sacrifices will have to be made. Who know their healing is far from over.
But who also know from the very depths of their souls, that come what may, their path will never again diverge.
So they walk on.
Living their own truth.
Together.
No matter what.
No, life isn't a fairy tale and there is no happily ever after.
There is something even better...
New Beginnings.
Because He is Her home, and She is His.
Now.
Always.
Forever.
Through the Yugas and ALL the Days of Brahma.
Comments