[Her throat is thick, too. A combination of the fit and the rehash, phantoms of the briars dragging through her throat as she watches herself pull them loose. Then there were the princes. The quiet. Absolute silence from a palace that had always brimmed with life.]

I had to give it up already. I'll be all right, I just need a bit of time. I did make peace with most of it before?

[She sniffs, touching her hand to her nose. Luckily she's a pretty crier. Pretty pretty pretty, and oh so graceful. What useful gifts the fairies left her.]

I think it was just easier when I didn't know how wonderful it would be.