Handsome & the Hideous
XVII
Many years passed this way, and at first
she resented the nightly activities he wanted,
but time made her understand him better
and to this wicked criminal she became bonded.
He in turn stopped flinching at her looks
and enjoyed the person who lay within.
He explained, in the past, he’d never found a female
who interested him for long, or could accept his acts of sin.
She accepted her name as Rose fully,
knowing her feelings had to be real for hope to exist.
Part of her would always love Jeremy more
but only friendship could be between them, they had to insist.
Handsome stopped longing for the outside world
and was happy living in their secluded sanctuary.
Whatever he desired the servants would find,
above all they longed to keep him merry.
After five years since he came to the castle
Rose tried to ask him an important question,
‘Do you love me? Could you?’
her uncertainty making it more of a suggestion.
Handsome considered her carefully, owing her the truth,
and could only shake his head.
‘I wish I could lie, but that wouldn’t break your curse.
If another female were here, I would rather have them in my bed.’
She accepted his honesty but didn’t stop her strategy,
hoping, one day, his feelings would change.
She had no other option to free her suffering people;
to break the curse, to this man she must remain chained.
Every year that passed, on the anniversary of their meeting,
she’d ask again, ‘Do you love me? Could you, one day?’
Sometimes he’d consider her seriously and give an honest no,
while other times he would tease, and hint that he may.
Her hope continued and bent her will to his.
Only once did Handsome consider leaving,
when his hair turned grey and wrinkles covered his face
he began to panic and began grieving.
‘Did I waste my life here? Could I have been more?
Has my name been forgotten or am I a villain in stories?
Should I have gone back and looked for redemption,
and attempted to gain some immortal glory?’
Fifty years since Handsome had arrived
his health and heart began to fail.
To his bed he was confined, unable to walk in the gardens,
his body had grown too frail.
Rose refused to leave his side,
her devotion and affections for him true.
He looked at her, smiled with peace,
saying, ‘I-’
And then he died.
Scribbled Thoughts 