Regina listened to the girl speak, a small smirk tweaking at the corners of her lips. In her time in Storybrooke, she’d busied herself by reading classic novels and plays. She found herself particularly interested in ‘Little Woman’, but that was besides the point. The brunette nodded softly as if she’d never heard the description of the book before. However, she had. “Such a selfless act of true love.” People nowadays didn’t believe that children that young could ever know what true love meant. Her experiences proved that they did. “He did it because he couldn’t live without her.” A small shake of her head and she faced the girl. “Can you imagine waking up and finding the person you love—dead beside you? Knowing it was your fault he’d killed himself?”
Her mind raced back to a simpler time. When she was years younger and the stable boy had captured her heart. There were so many modern works in this realm that she couldn’t read because it made her think of him. Romeo and Juliet was but one of those pieces. “Anyway,” She continued, “I hadn’t meant to startle you. I didn’t know you were reading. My apologies.” The brunette pulled her jacket tighter, protecting sensitive skin against the frigid winds of Maine.
Ava watched the woman as she talked, noting how she nodded, and she was delighted that someone had taken an interest in her.
❝ Well, I don’t think it was entirely her fault, you know? Of course, she must have felt that it was, but it wasn’t truly.
In my opinion, it was the complexity of the situation, how their families both hated one another. I couldn’t possibly imagine what that would be like, especially so young. Still, I don’t think it’s romantic to be so dependent on someone that you can’t function properly without them, and would literally take your own life if you didn’t have them.
But then you have to get into the whole mess of if there is a life after death, or if they were better off dead so their families could learn from it, and if Juliet ever could have been happy again, and there’s the whole question of whether happiness truly exists or if it’s just a lie we tell ourselves. ❞
Ava stopped herself there, knowing that if she continued she could be talking for days about all the information she stored up in her head for instances like this. She spent most of her free time reading up for the day someone took notice of her. When she apologised, Ava immediately shook her head, not wanting to discourage anyone from talking to her.
❝ Don’t worry about it.
I was just kind of surprised someone actually noticed me. People usually just walk on by, not that I mind, you know. It’s kind of nice to watch them, but it’s better when they see you. ❞
Regina hadn’t heard much about this infamous ‘goose girl’. She hadn’t paid much attention to anyone but herself during her time in the Enchanted Forest. Though, not all of that was her fault. She was simply..
—Ignorant when it came to some things.
The former Mayor had been spending more time surveying her town, visiting with the residents. She was surprised at how many people were openly talking to her, now. Some people even considered her a..
Hero.
That had been all she ever wanted. To be considered good. To be—appreciated.
When Regina looked over, she saw a young woman sitting on a bench. Had she seen her before? Surely she had. They’d all been here for almost thirty years. However—
This girl wasn’t someone she’d seen. So, naturally, she was going to—familiarize herself with her.
”Dear? Are you—alright?” Asked Regina, sitting down a couple inches away from the female.
❝ Huh? Me? ❞
Ava jumped slightly, startled. Looking around, she saw the woman who had spoken to her, and realised she was the only one within earshot. Of course she was talking to her.
❝ Oh, I’m fine.
Thanks. ❞
It took a moment for it to sink in, someone had noticed her; asked her how she was. Usually she was the one to instigate conversation, it was rare someone else spoke to her first. So she jumped on it, not wanting to waste an opportunity to be social.
❝ I was just really into this book.
It’s more like a play, actually. Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.
It’s supposed to be this great love story, which I don’t get. He’s like, seventeen and she’s thirteen. She fakes her own death so they can be together, and he kills himself when he finds out, thinking she actually died. Then she wakes up from her weird coma thing, and when she sees his dead body, she kills herself. I don’t know if I’m missing something, but it doesn’t seem like a healthy relationship to me. ❞
“That is rather —” What is the word she is looking for, besides horrific. Apparently not all fairy tales were child friendly; apparently there was a darker side.
“— yeah, I wouldn’t read that to my children. I know you’re better than that though.”
❝ I mean, she did steal my entire identity,
stole my clothes,
killed my horse,
threatened to kill me if I told anyone,
not to mention she kinda picked it for herself, but still..
