It so happened...

 

When other kids my age feared being forced to drink milk...I feared death.

 I was different, and that fact never failed to make its existence obvious. While I was convinced my life was a curse, one day it so happened...

On an especially crowded street with more soldiers than civilians, I tried to carry my twelve year old self without having people shove me to the ground. They successfully did though, they always did. At that point, it did not even feel like anything beyond an added dirt stain on my dress. 

I got up, to see a hand circle my mouth before I could even think of reacting. Then another hand swiftly lifted me to my feet. I had already been panting but with my nose covered, I craved air. 

After about a blurry minute I found myself in a dimly lit kitchen. The boy who lifted me a while ago insisted I do the dishes. I protested at first, cried even but one glare of his was enough to shut me up. As I did what I was told out of fright, I heard voices of many men all at once. 

I peeped from the kitchen window to see three soldiers. Their uniforms seemed unfamiliar to me. Soon enough, the boy who had forcibly brought me to this place joined the three soldiers. I contemplated yelling to get the soldiers' attention to seek help but they were too far away to hear my soft, low voice. Besides, with the boy looking at me periodically, my voice died away with the uncertainty of what could happen. 

Five whole minutes passed just like that, with my restlessness only increasing. Then, as if they had read my mind, the soldiers came closer to the kitchen. After smiling my way and pulling my cheeks, they asked the boy who I was.

"She's my sister" he said, giving me a tight hug.

"He's lying" I blurted, but too feeble for anyone to hear. 

I felt helpless then. 

The same kind of helpless that I felt when the royal palace was burning to ashes. 

The same kind that a princess feels while going from wandering in the corridors of a royal palace to crowded streets of a village.

The same kind a child would feel when in a situation of being kidnapped.

I was that princess whose initial memories of her palace were those of ruins.  

And I did realize, at every moment in life that I was...different.

 

***

 

A soldier stayed in the kitchen after others left. I was expecting to feel relieved and I did, until he emptied down two untouched bottles of whiskey alone. After which, I felt only uncomfortable.  

 

My chances of escaping seemed more bleak than ever. Was this going to be my new life? and would I just silently watch things go downhill?  

I looked at the half drunk soldier again. And just as I was about to ask him to rescue me, I noticed the shape of the badge on his uniform- which wasn't that 'unfamiliar' when I closely saw it...

 

It resembled the badge I had seen on the soldiers who attacked the royal palace.  The sudden realization pierced me like a sword. What had taken me this long to piece things together?

 

"Would anything else I do be of any help, Sir?" asked the boy.

"Not unless you happen to see the princess. Orders from above are strict to find her so she can be hanged as soon as possible"  

 

My eyes matched the understanding in the boy's eyes with extreme horror. 

 

" Me and my sister will surely let you know if we see the princess, Sir"