I was raised on once upon a times.

As a child, I always dreamed myself into being a princess. The damsel in distress, waiting for a prince to come and sweep me off my feet. Someone who would pick me up and make me feel like I deserved to wear the crown on my head.

Of course, I think I forget about the dragon. The fire-breathing beast standing between the knight in shining armor and his princess. 

And I think we all forget about the prince's journey. We know he's going to slay the dragon, we know he's going to kiss his princess and they're going to ride off into the sunset and it's going to be happily ever after.

But what about our brave knight's "once upon a time"? How did he even learn about the princess? And why is he going to her rescue? Because he's heard she's pretty? Because he's looking for honor and glory? Because it's the right thing to do?

The knight might start out with shiny armor but I don't think it's still gleaming by the time he finds the princess. I think his journey is as long as hers is.

Maybe that's the point. Neither one has a kind path. While she must wait, he must slay a beast far stronger than he. 

My knight hasn't come yet but I think that's okay. Because he's still on his journey. His armor may still be too shiny, too untried. Maybe he simply isn't ready to face his dragon.

Someday, he will though and when he does, I'll be waiting.

Our happily ever after isn't going anywhere.