The Three Party Show
It was that time of the year again. The kingdom of Heathrope was in full cheer. The hustle and bustle of the town could only be attributed to the annual ball held by the Royal Family. The ball was held every year on the Princess' birthday and every year the ball was grander than the year before. This year the Princess was turning eighteen and it was rumoured that food would be served in gold plates! Everyone was invited and everyone would go and marvel at the way the Princessd carried herself and they would swoon at her aristocratic features idand her charming dainty figure. She would look ethereal and unreal. Almost like a beautiful glass figurine. Yes it would be a day to remember as the Princess would chose her Prince and he was bound to be as elegant and as regal as her. The town of Heathrope was merry as it could be but one person despaired. She drowned her pillows in tears and permanent bags found their was under her eyes. She despaired as she looked into the mirror. She despaired as she saw the flab under her arms. She despaired as she saw her too thick thighs. She despaired at her stomach which was not as flat as it should be. No she did not like the way she looked, she was ugly, she was fat. So she made herself sick. She forced a smile and waved at her subjects. But they would never know about the scars she hid. Her cut that would never heal. She had to find a Prince on the day of her ball. But no one would ever like her if she was fat. So she toyed with her food and made herself sick when she was forced to eat. Then the day came. The day of the ball. The day of her birthday. Her thigh had a gap now. Her arms lost their flab. Her stomach was flat enough. But she still didn't like herself. There was some fat on her skin. Her cheekbones were not prominent enough. Her eyes were too beady. She sighed and went to the ball making sure her smile was in place. She wore a beautiful necklace with a pendant shaped like a bird which was adorned with so many precious stones. She loved the necklace. It gave her hope. She  found her Prince at the ball. They dance and they laughed and they marveled at the sight of the beautiful couple but, they thought, the Princess looked a bit too thin. She was already a tiny, dainty creature but now she looked a bit too bony, too gaunt. But they didn't think too much of it. They should have.
Clara Marie Heathrope passed away in a freezing December. It was too cold that year. The roads were buried under loads of snow. No cars were visible and the busy London roads were deserted. She breathed her last on one such freezing morning where the only sound was her steady breathing until that too stopped. Then the room was too silent. Tranquil.
It was a quiet funeral, a cold one. Attended only by her parents and her weeping little brother. It was only a month after her 18th birthday, why did she go so soon? He thought about the pendant he gifted her. Did she not like it? Didn't she say she felt like a Princess? Why did she chose to leave him?
At a distance stood Clare's Prince. He looked at the family, broken and tried to reign in his emotions. He went to the casket and laid a single rose on it. It was beautiful. It was dying. But nobody noticed.
Sometimes the biggest scars are hidden under the widest smiles. Self esteem issues don't just go away. They stay with you. Lurking in the shadows. Never letting you be happy. Self is the biggest friend and foe of self. If you can't love yourself how can you love others? Self esteem issues don't just go away. They drive you to the darkest places humans should never tread.
Love yourself.
