I walk into this big empty castle.

Fully dressed.

Not a soul lives inside.

The frills and skirts endlessly flow over my legs as I move forward.

My curls spill over my shoulders and gently bounce as I move.

The crown on my head is fitted on well, but it is still not too heavy.

My shoes add to my height as if to demand authority, they show the importance in my stride.

My neck is adorned with the finest gold and jewels.

The scent of a garden follows my every movement, and I feel as if I could have a parade of followers at my calling.

But I keep wandering these dark halls, and no one is here. The rooms are empty, The court yards are barren, and I grow tired of climbing these winding stair cases.

The walls have begun to crumble, wind blows dirt in through the shattered glass windows.
The moon light barely shines through, lightly touching everything inside, bright and sure. Gentle and crude.

But the sun still does not rise.

The walls are cold too touch, and there are no throwns on which to seat one's self.

All I can do is wander.

Like a lost princess.

No one to answer my call.

Why am I dressed like this? Is it because I'm important?

But why?

How did I get to this? Left to wander in this dark haunting loneliness?

Did I miss something? Is this a punishment?

Like a king with no kingdom. A bird with no feathers. A sky with no sun. A rainbow with no color.

The wind blows angrily. Its discouragement echoes through the crumbling foundations, and up to the empty looming towers.

The walls creek angrily, telling me I'm unwanted in this place.

The longer I wander the more my feet hurt, my shoes become a burden, my curls become undone, my dress collects dirt and wears away.

My worth seems to tear away, one fabric at a time. One seam at a time.

My gold becomes tarnished, and unfit to gaze upon.

No purpose.

Unneeded.

As am I.

The banquet hall is empty, and the flowers on the table are dried and wilted. The seats are out of order, as if someone just stood and pushed them back after a feast. Their purpose is done with.

This castle is done with. This place has no more meaning.

So how can I?

Lost to wander. Cold, empty, alone.

The court yards are lost. Their marble walls fallen, their tile terraces shattered. The fountain is dried up, and the trees have long since lost their life.

Wasted beauty, lost wonder. Misplaced purpose.

A princess with no worth. A home but no family.

A dress with no on-lookers.

No tailor to tend it.

A burning passion, contained in a furnace with no air. A tree without roots. A clock that doesn't tick.

I try to go outside, my worth can't be here.

But the doors are locked. The gates are sealed.

I'm trapped. Trapped in this emptiness.

I want out.

The broken windows cut me if I try to go through, and the high drop is sure to break
bones.

Am I a prisoner? Or am I waiting for something?

When will my day dawn?

Who will help me rebuild my castle?

Turn my prison into a home?

Will someone come to take me from this ruin?

Turn this loneliness into a life?

Turn this fear into strength?

What is my meaning?

Where is my purpose?

What is worth?

What does it look like?

Who put me here?

Why is it like this?

What can I do?

Why me?