The Queen

 

She’d done it... she had created an apple that would remove her enemy from the world and now, Snow White, would face her doom for daring to be more beautiful than her. She knew that this was right and just, for she had given everything to gain control of the kingdom and her beauty had kept her in power. Enemies surrounded her and by ending Snow White she knew she would solidify her reign over her people and strike fear into those who sought to bring about her downfall.

Her first attempt had failed, and Snow had been saved by those wretched little men, but mark my word, her end was near. The queen’s hatred bubbled like lava inside her flesh. She would not be stopped, and she would ensure her power was unchallengeable and known through every kingdom.

Once, she had been foolish enough to love the girl as a daughter. Yet, with every year, her beauty had remained the same while Snow's had grown more and more beautiful, which was unfitting for a queen to witness. This apple would rid her of the obstacle in her life and remove it from the world forever. All she needed to do was to get it to her.

She tore through the pages of her spell book knowing the spell she needed was hidden in its depths. How was she going to make it to the cottage in that form was the last thing on her mind?
A gasp as she looked at the page she was hoping to find and busied herself collecting what she needed to make the second spell. The energy required would be huge, but worth it. She chanted the incantation and felt her body morph: her back curving and her flesh crinkling like paper.

Finally, she cackled to herself. She grabbed the basket and placed the beautiful cursed apple on the top.

She began the long and arduous walk to the cottage of Snow White, where she found the 'ugly peasant girl' cleaning once more. In the light she looked more angelic and beautiful than ever and the Queen's rage grew more powerful. She walked forward and offered the girl an apple from her basket claiming it was a wishing apple.

Snow knew it could be a trick but hated to upset an old lady with a weak heart and so raised the apple to her mouth and took one bite of the red layered skin.

Suddenly, the old lady fell to the floor screaming as she transformed back into the Queen. It was working, she saw that now. The person who had brought her doom, was herself for allowing hatred and jealousy to reign.

As she screamed, she felt a hand touch hers. The warm tears fell from her stepdaughter and instantly the pain vanished from her and the screaming ceased.

She looked up into the eyes of the person she had hated for so long and saw the truth. True beauty lies inside as well as out.

The Maze of life.

 A Mindful Story.

In my teenage years, I got lost in the biggest maze I’d ever known. Every time, I thought I would get out, I ended up lost again and it caused me so much worry and strife.

One day, I deliberately got lost, through random choices, in directions and chances taken to find a new path. I was lost, I knew it but I was not afraid. I had found myself here and I would escape to safety.

I embraced the condition and situation. I’m still lost in the maze of my life but I will find my way.

A message for the lost!

 

A message for the lost!

 

A long time ago, I found myself lost and alone. The sky filled with clouds and my heart sang a mournful tune.  The more time that passed the more lost I became. Every new scene brought new feelings of woe and loneliness.

Nothing familiar could be seen and confusion threatened to swallow me up like a monster from a fairy tale world. My world passed by and each time it did I felt alone and more lost than ever before.

I searched everywhere for something familiar, but nothing appeared.

That is when I stopped! I calmed myself down and controlled my breathing.

I became aware of where I was, who I was and my presence in both. I realised the time that had passed was not retrievable but my eyes now open could see the path ahead. I was not alone and was where I was always meant to be surrounded by those I love, who tried to find me but seemed unable.

When I looked around, I saw my friends, my family and they were all staring at me with tears streaming down their cheeks.

I blinked, they reacted instantly, smiling and as one in perfect unison stated, “You’ve come back to us!”

Though this feeling overcame me many more times, it could never settle long because those I love found it easier to find me and guide me home.

Those feelings reoccur but I know I am a mountain and know life throws storms to weather me, I will not wither away. I will never be lost for all can see. I will last!

Elara

Elara was an elephant – grand, imposing, beautiful yet she had a problem… she was so forgetful. The other elephants feared to let her out of their sights. 

The elephant’s memory is legendary they will demonstrate this by returning each year to the place their ancestors died. Bones laid testament to their everlasting memories, but Elara was different.

She would forget things in the short- term memory everything since the traumatic escape from the poachers.

She had hidden those feeling (PST) deep down because she couldn’t cope with the onslaught of emotions, they created inside her. She had locked them so deep that it appeared she’d forgotten but it had scarred her inside. She now forgot everything she did.

Her family consisted of Elena her mother, Elliot her father and Ellard her brother and they constantly lived in fear that she would disappear or get lost again and something terrible would happen due to this problem. 

This feat was manageable for many years as the family roamed the African desert not stopping and rarely leaving each-others sight.

One day, Elara went for a walk and slipped down a hole into a cavern black and dark. Fear began to take root and when she heard the screech and the flutter of a wing before I touched her flesh, she fled towards the light barely visible in the distance. 

She stumbled and tripped but would not be stopped. But nearing the hole she fell and slid out the cavern plummeting to the river below screaming for help. Her last sight was of her family staring over the edge of the cliff way above her head.

When she woke, she was once again in a cage locked inside a van that belonged to poachers. This sent her into frenzy as she began to remember what had happened before. A sound of absolute terror escaped her, and the world went silent. Suddenly, the van was barged and tilted on its side. 

Elara fell and screamed but immediately got up as her brother ripped the door of the cage. The poachers had been barged into the river and had been swept by its current.

Elara looked at her family and said, “Thank you, I am home.” With that they returned to their wandering. One unit…one family…one restored elephant amongst them.