dyspraxic-zebra

[dyspraxic-zebra]

[dyspraxic-zebra]

[dyspraxic-zebra]

[dyspraxic-zebra]

Valeria

Irkgrove Palace was and always would be home to Valeria and her devoted father, Vincent. She was the only heir to the throne, and more importantly she was Vincent's world.  Valeria had lost her mother before having the opportunity to meet her. She died moments after giving birth. Vincent had promised his wife that he would do anything and everything to protect their daughter so long as he lived, and after if it were at all possible. As such, the castle servants, cooks, guards and even groundskeepers had been ordered to watch over Valeria at every opportunity. She was not permitted to leave the palace grounds where she could not be safeguarded. The princess had no quarrel with this until she began to jade of the same daily routine.

Every morning she was awoken by her Nanny and clothed appropriately in knee-high socks, a white, ivory, pink or pale yellow frock with a complimenting ribbon tied in her hair. She was served a traditional breakfast of fish, or bacon and eggs with a vast selection of fruit. She would take her language, mathematics, music and literature lessons before afternoon tea and recommence in the gardens for etiquette and riding practice, which she despised. Finally it would be time for a lavish three course meal in which she dined opposite her father, the King, before bathing in milk and being tucked back into her prodigious goose-feather bed by her Nanny.

It was a luscious but dull life, for which Valeria could not understand the purpose. Why should she learn anything if she was to be locked away for her life? She had tried to smuggle out of the castle many times, but had never made it to the front gate. Despite planning her every movement and timing flawlessly, she was always caught. At the age of 11, her silky red ringlets had grown to reach the nape of her back. She had pale milky skin, pinpoint freckles across her nose and cheeks, dazzling emerald eyes and a small, rosey red mouth that justified her plump peach cheeks. It would be very challenging, if not impossible, to lose Valeria in a crowd.

Valeria had particularly restless feet today. She had never been outside the castle walls. Gazing out through her open window as she often did, she could watch the bustling life of the village below the palace. The scruffy children of the workhouse were playing chase with the disgruntled pigeons whilst the gentleman in a black waistcoat and hat worked the street-corner stall and sold roasted hazelnuts and chestnuts to three prattling young ladies in tawny petticoats and bonnets. Mangy tabby cats teased the rats back to their dirty crevices and Madame Bennett's hound, much to her dismay, pursued the cats in turn, until they scattered and scaled the adjacent stone wall.

      "It must be so much more fun down with the people," Valeria thought. They always seemed so happy, rushing about with their daily duties and living simple lives. Sometimes she heard the echo of laugh on the wind. She wondered what it would feel like to truly laugh again. Not just a polite ladies titter that she had been taught to do with respect and etiquette classes, but a real belly-aching bellow of a laugh that would bring tears to the eyes. Her father used to laugh like this, but he hadn't been the slightest bit chucklesome for years. She wanted to join the people.       "That's it!" she decided with exciting determination. "Today I'm going out there! Today I'm going beyond the gate!" So she tied back her hair with the ribbon and darkened her ginger locks with a mixture of ink and water that she had been planning to use since her last attempt. She pulled on her dirtied ivory dress which she had hidden from the maids, and left her shoes behind. On her way, she scooped a handful of ash from the fireplace and rubbed her face and neck. Valeria stealthily snuck through the tediously boundless corridors of the castle, peering around corners and ducking behind the drapes and tapestries when she heard the approaching footsteps or the staff, bustling around the castle. She had planned her escape perfectly this time.

She would need to go through the kitchen to avoid being seen by the guards. Right on time, the food cart pulled up to the pantry as it did every morning. Valeria lingered quietly in the hall outside of the kitchen as the cook emptied the wagon. At the sound of hooves, she bolted and dove into the covered cart. Peaking out of the sheet, Valeria felt a large sense of accomplishment as a beaming smile grew on her face. She had done it. Finally she had escaped. However, it wasn't long before she was overcome with guilt. Afterall, she had lied to her father again, after promising that her last rebellious escape attempt would be the last. She knew he only wished the best for her, but she felt like a caged bird. She had no friends of her own age and no one to play with. She was lonely. She was angry, too. Valeria never saw her father anymore. He was too busy ruling the Kingdom, and what was he so afraid of anyway? Everyone in the village was happy. He had nothing to fear and Valeria wasn't frightened. She was excited. She was ready for some adventure, at long last.

[dyspraxic-zebra]

It's easier to stay with you than search for someone new I'd rather let it be that I could find someone right for me I'm content with emotionless support from a girl who's lost in a business world Though I promised myself that I'd one day get up and go I'd rather stay trapped in a loveless way than try to make the pain go I dishonor myself by the way that I string you along I'd rather stay trapped in a loveless way than try to make the pain grow Cause the freedom I'd carried with the cost of the fallout It's better just to stick with you than crawl in some new shell Besides I couldn't stand a night alone in some cheap six motel I consent to emotion little rest and an unused spark but I'll never shove But the comfort I get seems to outweigh all the costs I'd rather stay trapped in a loveless way than try to make the pain go I dishonor myself by the way that I string you along I'd rather stay trapped in a loveless way than try to make the pain grow Cause the freedom I'd carried with the cost of the fallout I'm much too lazy to make things right I'm much too lazy to make things right I'd rather stay trapped in a loveless way than try to make the pain go I dishonor myself by the way that I string you along I'd rather stay trapped in a loveless way than try to make the pain grow Cause the freedom I'd carried with the cost of the fallout