He would always stare at me in a way a brother would stare at her younger sister.
To him, I was nothing more than a pesky little sister of his bestfriend.
But to me, he wasn’t just an ordinary household visitor.
I knew there was something for him. In my little world, I was Barbie and he was Ken. I was the little princess in despair and he was the mighty knight in shining armor. In my own private world, I was his princess and he was my prince.
But my fairy tale has changed when he and my brother got accepted in a university across the country.
The night before they left, I got all the courage I have to give him a going-away present. It was something I did while everyone was asleep. I knitted a wrist warmer for him.
I excitedly went out of the house and into the backyard.
And in the dark shadows of our lawn, I saw him in the ugliest face I could ever see a prince.
He was kissing my brother’s girlfriend. He smiled at me and waved like I didn’t see anything at all. I smiled back.
It was the first time he ever smiled at me.
It was the first time I felt my heart crushed.
I felt my very first heartbreak when I was ten.
I stopped playing Barbie and Ken, I stopped dreaming of princess and fairies and white horses.
I stopped believing.
Now, ten years later, I have found my own prince. He’s waiting for me at the lobby. Today spells the most important day of our lives. Barbie and Ken would have loved this part. Barbie would have envied this pretty white gown that I’m wearing.
A knock came from the door and I rushed to open it.
It was Sam, my brother, and beside him stood Terrence.
“Hey sister, remember Terr?” Sam said, pushing his way in.
I smiled and tried to look for the face that once flooded my imaginations. He was there, smiling at me, and for a moment I couldn’t speak.
“I think I forgot something downstairs, I’ll be right back,” Sam said as he turned himself to the doorway.
I stood there, still shocked by the sudden outpour of emotions and memories and waited.
Terrence went near me, traced my face with his fingers, looked into my eyes and said,
“You’re the most beautiful princess I have ever seen in my life.”
I looked back – straight to his eyes and saw the man I loved ten years ago.
“I’m sorry I didn’t give you the chance to give me the wrist warmer.” He said, as his lips went closer to mine.
