Once upon a time long, long ago in a land far, far away, there was a young man of about 20 years of age, whose name is not important, but we will call him Simon, as in "Simple Simon". Simon was a common peasant. He did not have wealth, good looks, a muscular build, or lots of land or possessions. Simon was a very friendly person. He was a very outgoing young man and liked everyone and everyone liked him.
Every now and then, Simon would go to the town square at the end of the day and meet with the other young men of his age and spend time with them until it was time to go home and prepare for the next day's work on the farm.
On one such visit to the town square late one night, Simon saw a sight that made his heart jump with pure exctasy and delight. Being carried around in a carriage, was a beautiful young woman. To Simon, she was so beautiful that she took his breathe away. This was the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen in his life. She had long, dark black hair, dark mysterious eyes, a slim figure that looked as if she had been starved, and when she walked, it was a walk that showed she was of style and dignity. Out of an unknown curiosity, he had to get closer just to hear her voice. When she spoke, it was soft and sounded like music in the air and she had a beautiful smile that set him in a trance. Simon was so awe struck by this beautiful Princess! Simon could do nothing! His legs, guided by his heart, took him to her side. Simon was so entranced by her, he really did not know what to even say to this young maiden when he first spoke to her. Somewhere out of his mouth fumbled the words he spoke to her. Simon did not know how or why, but she was taken up with him and him with her. Here was a simple man being graced with the presence of a beautiful princess, that took the time to talk with this simple commoner. This talk went on and on. Friends were made that night. Simon felt that something strange was happening to him. He had never felt like this before.
Night after night Simon would meet this Princess that had stolen his heart. Eventually, the two became one in their hearts. The binds of love had taken over their hearts and souls. A commoner and a Princess had crossed the bridge of differences. They both forgot about the barriers of any kind. They were willing to sacrifice all they stood for, just to be with each other for the rest of their lives. True love had bloomed in their hearts and souls.
After the many months of meeting and joining of their hearts, the two decided it was time to set off to tell their parents of their wishes. Simon's parents were thrilled with Simon being in love and accepted the Princess as being the woman that Simon loved and not for being the Princess that she was. The Queen was excited about her young daughter finding the happiness in her heart and gave her blessing to the union. However, the King was upset with the thought of the two even being together. He thought his only daughter was too young, not ready for marriage, that she deserved better, and needed a stronger man to wed. He sent Simon away and told him to not ever come to see his daughter again. To seal their fate, the King sent the Princess away to another land far away, so that Simon would never be able to see the Princess again.
Simon was heartbroken. He had no way to find his Princess. She had been carted away in the middle of the night and to a place that he knew not of. How would he ever find her again? Would he ever see her again? Was she okay?
Though the years have come and gone, Simon still searched for his Princess. She never left his heart or his mind. He looked everywhere he could think that she might be. He asked everyone that he met, if they knew of the location of the beautiful Princess. No one seemed to know of her or where she was.
One day, Simon stumbled upon someone that knew of the Princess and her whereabouts! He was told she was in a land far away, but had gotten married and now had a family. Oh, how he had hoped for good news, but this sad news hurt his heart. Still, he wondered if she still truly loved him deep inside or if her love for him died when she left? Did she still love him the way he still loved her? Had she given up all hope of him ever finding her. Had she now found a Prince that she truly loved more than him? There were so many questions that were going through his mind after hearing of the news of her. For all of these years he had hoped for the good news that she was still waiting for him to find her and come take her away.
Simon was put to a test of his true love for the Princess. Was Simon to go and seek out his true love even to just see her again? Was he to stay away and hope that she was truly happy now in her new kingdom? Was he to try to forget her and the love she had for him and his love for her? Simon was in such agony on what to do. He knew he had to make a decision one way or the other.
Simon made the hardest decision he could make in his entire life. Simon loved the Princess so very much, and that he wanted her to be happy for the rest of her life. He thought it would be best if he stayed away from her and not interfere with her new life. She had found someone else and made a family with him. Simon knew that he would always love the Princess with all of his heart, soul, and being. Even as far from him as she was, he would always love her. He decided that maybe, just maybe, there was still a little ounce of that love in her heart for him that would surface every now and then, and remind her of the "Simple Simon" that loved the beautiful Princess with all of his heart and that she would remember the love they once had a long, long time ago in a land far, far away!
02-23-03 My Birthday Story