Why are you crying?
People aren't happy when you cry.
Stop crying.
Do you need a tissue?
Do you want me to leave you alone?
I'm sorry the boy hit you. I thought he liked you; he brought you flowers.
It seems like flowers don't always mean what you hope they do. I thought he was what he seemed.
It's just a rude, harsh reality when sweet smelling Lilies hide a smack to the face. I'm so embarrassed that I didn't see this coming. I mean, how could I be so stupid?
But it's okay because sometimes people are mean. Sometimes people are confused. Sometimes people confuse hate with love and love with hate. Sometimes those people hit you, sometimes they don't.
I just want you to smile again. I want you to do puzzles with me again. I want you to take me to the park on Thursdays again.
Why do you spend so much time in your room?
Good question. It's safe. Lilies are just Lilies in there.
Thursday was park day? I thought it was Tuesday...you only want me to do puzzles with you because you're faster at them than I am.
I guess we could do a puzzle now. Do you have a puzzle that is anything other than a picture of a cat?
A dog puzzle might be nice. Or maybe a hamster. I might come out of my room for a puzzle that has a hamster somewhere on it.
No, but 'll do a puzzle with you now. I have one of a princess. She looks like you. But she doesn't have bruises and scars.
What happens when we finish the puzzle? Will you go back to your room?
A princess? That sounds kind of nice. Is she in a tower? You think she looks like me. I think I would rather live in your head, than in mine.
How about we start with the puzzle and then see how we feel? No promises. No heartbreak. Just for this moment. Okay? Just a princess puzzle outside of safety.
She's in a tower. She's safe in the tower. You would be safer because boys can't climb up to bring you flowers because you cut your hair short. I thought you looked prettier with long hair. Why did you cut it? Did the mean boy make you do that?
No. I just needed a change. I need to be somebody new now. Hair is the easiest place to start. That puts a lot of pressure on the hair stylist, don't you think? "Can you please make me new and beautiful with just your scissors? Maybe a little highlight will help me forget that one bad man I let into my now terrifying world?"
Towers and hair can't always protect.
I still think you're a princess. Even though princesses don't wear black all the time. Princesses take their sisters to the park.
I don't remember the park very well. What is so much fun about the park?
There are swings and slides. We used to pick the flowers. Do you still want to do that? I don't think you still like flowers.
Puzzle first? You can tell me what you like about flowers and princesses and slides and swings while we put the pieces together.
You have to do the edges first. And then you make the princess, she's the most important. Do you see her dress? It's pink, not black. And her hair is long. And she's smiling. I miss you looking like the princess.
Outside looking in. I am black on the inside right now. I wonder if I put pink on the outside and look at myself through your eyes, it will change the color of my soul?
Let's try it and see.
Do you mean if you look like a princess, you'll be a princess?
I mean that if I look like a princess I'll feel like a princess. Are princesses happy, do you think?
Princesses are happy. They get flowers from boys who love them and they can always wear pink dresses and they never want to be in their rooms. They play with their sisters and they never cry. I think you can feel like a princess again. I can help.
You can help me be pink again? I don't know if it's that simple.
You can borrow my pink headband and pink nail polish. My shirts don't fit you anymore. Plus they've been sitting in my closet for months so they probably smell funny.
I haven't looked in your closet lately.
I used to sit in your room every day. Maybe I'll paint my nails after this puzzle.
I still don't know why you like slides and princesses and flowers and swings.
Hello? Where are you now?
I can't finish this puzzle without you. There are too many pieces missing. The princess has holes.
I don't like the park because I have to go alone since you left me behind. You were the only one that went on the swings or the slide.The swings are too still for my heart to keep beating.
I wish I could talk to you all the time. I wish you were still here to talk me out of my hole. I just don't know how to finish our princesses' story all on my own.
Your silence is killing me. There are too many pieces missing to make a beautiful picture.
I'll always be close enough to help you finish the puzzle.
