once upon a time

once upon a time.
there was a little boy.
who was enchanted by fairy tales.
tales of faraway lands and castles.
of magic and mythical creatures.
of charming princes and knights in shining armour.

he grew up with them.
and when the time came to leave them behind.
he didn't want to.
he threw tantrums and fits.
screamed and shouted.
stamped his feet.

those around him shook their heads in pity.
at his naiveness and idealistic views of the world.
and in the end.
they let him be.
alone with his fairy tales.
he loved so dearly.

and so he lived out his days.
one after the other.
amidst the hardness of the world.
the ugliness of reality.
in the safe comfort of his fairy tales.
and fair company.

and as he lay dying.
for die he must.
his only companions were his fairy tales.
no comfort nor company could they offer.
for they were only that.
mere fairy tales.