Princess Iris

NEXT

DAY

I wake up screaming. I can't breathe as I struggle for air. I rush to the bathroom and get myself into the bathtub of water. I keep gasping for air until I feel the warm water smoothening my skin and just then breathing gets under control. I relax my head on the tub and look at the ceiling.

"It happened again, didn't it? At least I got to see her face again," I say to myself.

After the fire incident that killed Ri six years ago, I have been having nightmares about that night most nights, especially when I am stressed out. But in the nightmares, it's different, I am the one getting burned alive and Ri is screaming out to me. Some nights I am the one crying with a burning stick and setting Ri on fire and asking her to forgive me. These days, I don't mind having nightmares, as long as I get to see her face again.

I get out of the bathtub all soaked and I walk back to my room. I stand there looking at my bed drenched with sweat; I walk to the windows and draw the curtains open to let in the morning air and sunlight. I change from my clothes and walk to my dressing table and start losing my hair to comb it when I perceive the smell of her perfume. I turn to the door and look under it, I find her shadow there lurking.

"What is she doing here so early"? I say to myself.

Today feels different, I watch her shadow pacing around my door and I can feel her anxiety through the door.

Of late, I have been brainstorming with myself on how I will leave this place but nothing comes to mind. I can't just walk out from here and say:

"Hi, I am Princess Iris, do you remember me? The princess who caused her sister's death and went into hiding, shielding herself from the world and the shame.' Even I know that doesn't make sense," I say to myself.

Just then I hear a faint sound, I drop my hair brush and turn towards the door. I listen patiently until I hear an unbelievable sound. I stand up and walk quietly to the door. I put my ear against the door so that I listen to it more. Mother is crying. Mother is crying and it sounds like she's trying to keep it down and it doesn't sound like it's working. I don't think I have seen or heard mother cry, why now? I turn walking away from the door.

"Iris."

I stop walking surprised she finally said something after six years.

"Iris, Honey, it's me your mother. I don't know why I just said that, of course, you knew it was me," Mother says.

A SHORT PAUSE OF SILENCE

Well, I wanted to..."

A SHORT PAUSE OF SILENCE

Wow, she is really bad at pet talks," I say to myself

"The King of Divimon came," Mother says.

MORE SILENCE

"Honey please I need you to talk to me. Anything, just say anything to me. I know you hate me and your father."

I hear her crying more.

"Please Iris I am so sorry. Words cannot express how sorry I am. I should have listened to you more. I shouldn't have acted the way I did toward you. I can't change the past but I can do better for you. I want to do better for you. Every day I come here to talk to you but I end up not knowing what to say and I go back to beating myself up. Iris please you don't have to open the door, just talk to me," Mother says crying.

I can feel her pain. Tears drop from my eyes. I always thought my mother hated me for all that happened. Just thinking of her and father and all that happened in the last six years, made me so depressed. I guess she is also beating herself up like I am. I hear her sniffing and slowly walking away from the door. I couldn't stop myself as I turn back to the door and start undoing the front locks for the first time in six years. I slowly touch the handle and open the door.

I keep looking at the ground as my eyes catch my mother's gown. I slowly work my eyes up until I reach her face. My mother gasps loudly. My mother looks very tired. Her face looks puffy from crying, but her skin look is as beautiful as always. This is not my mother's finest moment. We stare at each other for what seems like hours. I finally break the silence.

"What did King Archer want?" I ask her.

She starts to tell me everything.

Silence stretches

"Wow," I finally say. "I wasn't expecting that," I say quietly.

"It's your decision honey; you don't have to do it..."

"We are at war," I say.

"It's nothing your father and I can't handle," Mother says.

"If you could handle it, you won't be here. King Frederick is drowning. If nothing is done soon, he won't have any army protecting his kingdom by winter's fall," I say.

"How did you..."

"Newspapers, I am not entirely cut off from the world you know," I say interrupting mother.

She smiles at me.

I take a look at the room behind me.

"Besides, I have been thinking about it for a long time, it's time to leave this room. I have been here long enough," I say.

"We don't deserve this. You know, you coming out to help us..."

"Help us? Mother this is my kingdom too. I was taught A princess's duty is to the crown and her people. I have been sobered for six years, it's time I play my part in ending this uprising war we have with the pirates. She would do the same," I say with a whisper.

I look at her mother; I can't help but notice the way she is looking at me. Just then I hear a whisper "Queen Guinevere"

"Mother?" I say.

She snaps out of it.

"Are you ok?" I ask.

"Yes, honey I am fine. I got lost in my thoughts. But I did hear everything you said. If you strongly feel you want to do this, your father and I will be with you every step of the way," Mother says. Those words cut through my heart and I nod at her.

"How is he, Father? I ask.

"He is great but misses your trouble," Mother says as a tear drops down her cheek.

She smiles at me and I curtsey at her. I watch as she turns away, I watch her walk down the long corridor, and then it hits me.

"I will stop by for breakfast tomorrow morning," I yell out to her.

She turns back to me, smiling with tears in her eyes.

"Of course, I will have the royal chef prepare your favorites," Mother says cleaning her eyes with her handkerchief.

"And tell father to bring an extra newspaper," I say.

Mother couldn't hold herself for that part as she starts laughing.

"He will be so glad. I will tell him," Mother says.

I enter back into my room and close the door behind me. I look straight at the mountains in the far distance through my balcony.

"Ok Ri, I am doing this. I don't know what to do or where to start but I am doing it anyways," I say to myself.