Once upon a time,
I was Cinderella:
ousted, ostracized,
unloved
until a slipper of glass
was delivered to me by my prince.

Once upon a time,
I was Snow White:
burdened by chores
until a poisoned apple
put me to sleep
and my prince woke me with a kiss.

Once upon a time,
I was Aurora:
pricking my finger
on a spinning wheel
and freezing time
until my prince rescued me.

Once upon a time,
I was Rapunzel:
alone,
locked in a tower
until my hair became a ladder
and brought my prince to me.

Once upon a time,
I was someone:
single and strong,
hoping for a fairy tale,
wishing for my happily ever after,
waiting for my prince to come.

Once upon a time,
That was me.