Deconstruction

"I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale

I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell"

3 years ago

one girl crouched on a carton in the spare room, cradling a cordless phone in her hand.

"I love you"

*pause* just the sound of the waves as they crash against the shore and one boy struggling to keep his voice from cracking

"Hey....it's going to be fine."

"Yeah..yeah, stop crying sweetie"

"You stop first!"

*pause* the boy catches his breath and finds the words

"I want to see you."

she hesitates. her parents are in the next room packing up her life in soul less grey suitcases. she is only 15.

"I'll meet you at the back of the building."

she runs out, not bothering to make an excuse. hopefully by the time they notice that she's missing she'll be on her way back up in the elevator with a pack of chewing gum.

he is waiting and she sees him at once. she throws herself into a hug. as she melts in his arms, she feels certain that this is exactly where she is supposed to be. they kiss. he tastes sweet- of seven-up and longing. she looks into his eyes as she says what he cannot put into words and runs back into the building, thankful that they got the chance to have a proper goodbye.

3 months later

one girl crouched in the verandah of her house cradling a phone in her hand, struggling to catch her breath under a suddenly claustrophobic night sky

"i kissed her"

this time she can't restrain the sob

"i don't care okay? that's how crazy i am about you. i can't lose you over something as stupid as this"

"you have to move on"

disbelief battles with hope and then she hangs up, hating herself

"Holding on, the days drag on

Stupid girl, I should have known
I should have known"

2 years ago

one girl pacing in her grandma's bedroom one winter afternoon cradling a phone in her hand trying her best to swallow rage and grief

"if you'd just let me explain!"

"i really can't talk to you right now! i have an exam tomorrow and i can't deal with this."

"you don't know the full story! please, just give me a minute"

the only answer she receives is the dead flat dialtone of the phone.

the maid enters the room- "what happened? "

"nothing, come" hastily she pulls her lips into a smile and leaves the room to sample pickle and chat

"This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you and your white horse, to come around"

today

they pass each other in a crowded library. he has his girlfriend at his side, she's on her cell phone talking to her best friends. they exchange perfunctory smiles, a how do you do and then walk off in opposite directions. indifference is the emotion of choice.