They were metaphors. With coy smiles and sneaky looks, they lied to you. Snow white? She was a prostitute. More dead on the inside than anyone could ever see. The seven dwarfs were her regulars, always from 1 to 3.

Cinderella never had a glass slipper, the fairy godmother tricked her. The carriage was set for the castle but Cinder never asked to go there.

Beauty and the beast were nicknames, beauty was revered, beast was hated. Beauty helped orphans, beast helped himself, cruelty was all he was good for and the beast was all, BUT fair.

Repunzel was a child, naive and beautiful. Her mother taught her to be pretty, Flynn taught her to think, and with this came a yearning to be more than sweet.

Sleeping beauty was a drug addict. The prince let amphetamine coat their kisses and his clothes so she was drawn to a feeling she thought was love.

Princess Tiana sold her soul to the boogeyman, and with a few words, a realm opened its arms to the new queen of its land.

Jasmine was a witch. Aladdin tried to steal her magic carpet, but failed, as punishment he was locked in a bottle and never seen again.

They lied to you. With coy smiles and sneaky looks they told you what they wanted you to think.

I don’t know if this will do it, but I hope the truth sets you free.

Excerpt from a book I’ll never write (Rose)