By Nikki
Date: 6 July 2000

Happily Ever Afters

I used to believe in happily-ever-afters, 
fairy-tale endings, 
and the knight in shining armor
that would sweep me away from it all one day.
I used to believe that love was the 
be-all and end-all of it all, 
that it could conquer anything 
if I just waited long enough. 

Internet romances and e-mail affairs, 
somewhere in the middle a visit here or there.  

I used to believe that when the time was right, 
love would lead me to his door, 
that never more would I have to sleep alone 
in that never-never land of being single.  
I used to believe that wishing on a star really worked, 
that love was strong enough for him to hear me wishing.  
Wasn’t he making the same wish I was?

I used to believe that white picket fences, 
children and puppies playing in the yard, 
double income cars sitting in the drive 
were the way for me to go.  

Opportunity never knocked once, 
never mind twice.  
It bowled me over, 
taking my strength to fight back away.  
I couldn’t get back up, 
not in time to slay the dragons 
that no knight appeared to slay.

Childhood fantasies disappear like mist in the sun.  
I only believe that love has played a trick on me, 
leading me to one who is out of my reach.  
The fates have conspired against me, 
cutting short his thread, 
and lengthening mine too much.  
I laugh in the face of love, 
and cringe at the sight of death, 
and wonder if somewhere in the middle 
there is a story I haven’t read yet, 
that might explain it all.  

NL 07/06/2000