Inside the Walls

...continued from the previous post

He sat beneath the tall cypress as the wind sang through the leaves. He was so grateful to finally escape even though he knew he would not be able to stay away for long. The castle walls could be so confining. Inside, all the pleasures of the world were at his fingertips, yet he was not happy there. He longed for love and joy yet he could never find it. All those walls contained were disappointment and regret. Regret for the life he might have lived if he had taken his chance and disappointment that the chance would not be given to him again.

It might seem that anyone would like to live as he did with all the luxuries and excitement he had. But as the years passed the same, the fine things lost their newness and the events stopped pleasing him. More than anything, he wanted something worth living for, but nothing came.

He had given up on the hope of anything different years ago. He was a prince and this was his life - find a princess, make her your queen, take your place on the throne, and raise up a son to do the same. But he was so tired of all the princesses. All the same - all boring and ignorant. This was not what he wanted from life, but it was all he could get. 

The wind continued to sway the cypress above him as he thought on these things. The tree's shadow grew longer as the sun got closer to the horizon. Reluctantly, he got up and began to head for home.

to be continued...