One day the future worried the princess.
A travelling Jester visited her court, armed with a deck of magic cards. Her curiosity had outweighed her scepticism, and so she had her future laid out before her.
With twelve cards in total, her year was predicted month by month.
January gave her wings, February was kind, both March and April were gentle, and June and July held nothing but love. August read wealth, but September…
“Start saving your energy in September,” the Jester announced, tapping the magic card, “so you’ll have enough strength for October. Because October is going to pose a challenge. Something big will change. Something unpleasant. And you will spend the rest of the year dealing with the aftermath of it!”
The Jester’s solemn voice echoed through the halls of the castle long after he had left and the Princess soon found herself worrying about what was to come.
“If only I know what will shape my future adversity, maybe I can prevent it!”
Her anxiety awakened, she sought council amongst her friends and family.
The Queen told her: “Perhaps you’ll simply lose your crown.”
Her Chamber Ladies told her: “Don’t worry, magic cards are fake anyway.”
The Devil, always seizing an opportunity to work his darkness into the Princess’ mind, chuckled: “It’s coming, it’s coming! And it will be bad and there’s nothing you can do about it!”
Even the Castle hummed a tune: “Whatever is coming, is coming. Just let it.”
MIKA
“If you could look into the future, would ya?”
None of these words calmed the anxiety of the Princess.
She feared what was to come, so much so that she forgot to enjoy the present. All she could see was the path in front of her: it was leading to October and getting shorter every day.
Something bad was coming for her!
Her heart, normally beating with courage and strength, was growing colder and stiller.
January had nearly passed but the Princess couldn’t stop weeping October sorrows.
Then, with wings as pure as light itself, her Fairy Godmother visited her.
She enveloped the Princess in a loving embrace – this was her secret power. The Fairy Godmother could comfort even the most broken heart.
“My dearest Princess, what is causing you this pain?”
The Princess cried: “Something awful is going to happen to me in nine months’ time! I wish I knew what it was so I could prevent it!”
The Fairy Godmother smiled and stroked the Princess’ golden hair.
“Your heart deserves better than to be held captive by possible what’s-to-comes. January is gone. Today will pass. And tomorrow. And October. Holding on to the future is like holding on to nothing: it’s not here yet. It does not exist.”
She kissed the Princess’ head and wiped away her tears.
“No matter if any of your fears might come true, you have not come this far because you are weak. You’ve won all your battles because you are strong. October will come, yes. And it will leave. And you will still be here.”
Elle Vampa 