I was in the garden, hanging up wet clothes, when my Mother's cries pierced the calm spring air. I looked up from the basket of wet clothes to see Father storming out of the house, his face hard and unreadable. I tiptoed into the house as mother continued to wail. I stood at the bottom of the narrow stairs looking up to the second floor. I didn't need to go up there to know why she was crying. I tried to push my legs to make their way up the stairs and to my mother, to comfort her, to make...

The tulips and bleeding hearts swayed as the knight walked past them, towards her shrine, Golden flowers in hand. The chimes sang a delicate melody to announce his arrival. The knight's armour shimmered as he stepped into the dark hall. The sun shone on him from behind, casting a halo around him when he took off his helmet to reveal a familier and friendly face that had not changed since the goddess was free to roam. He gazed upon the altar where a golden statue of the goddess lay leisurely....

The mask was hard to see through. After countless drinks between songs, I could barely see the guests' masks as I spun and twirled amongst them, strumming my lute. All they were were fake smiles, nothing more. I spun to face the king and queen, all dressed in icy blue. They lifted their glasses to me as I skipped towards them, singing the tale of their kingdom’s glory. I danced around their thrones, hearing their laughter and giggles as true, triumphant smiles graced their faces. I bowed to...