I sit in my corner. I can feel the two walls connect at my back. I feel safe here. I can feel cold tears dripping down my face. No one can see me here, and neither can I see them. And oh, am I glad that I can't.

Still, I can see them in my mind. Her, pretty, soft brown hair and heart shaped face. And him. Walking awkwardly, trying to not go too fast for her. His hands with their claws and his gnarled face. I did this to him.

I loved him. I still do. He said he loved me, too, but love shouldn't hurt.

I close my eyes, squeeze out the tears, and press my face against my knees. I love him. I cursed him.

I used to walk with him, like they are now. Only he didn't have to walk so awkwardly then. He didn't have claws back then. He was human.

He used to smile at me, and it didn't look garish like it does now. He didn't have fangs then. He used to hold my hand, before it was huge and had sharp claws. He used to kiss me softly, back before his face was covered in fur. He used to look me deeply in the eye, just like he does now to her. His eyes are the same, the one thing that stayed the same. I can see them clearly, blueish grey, like the stormy sea.

I can remember his voice, low and soft next to my ear. I remember the way his hand felt, warm, as it took mine. But I can also remember his voice loud and accusing, yelling and cursing at me over some petty fight. And I remember the way his hand stung as it slapped against my cheek. I remember falling against the floor as he pushed me, wearing long sleeves to cover my bruises, and the red hand print that wouldn't go away. Love shouldn't hurt.

So I cursed him. Until he learned to love truly, he would look like the beast he was.

At first he tried to plead with me, told me it was ridiculous, he had already truly loved me. I almost took it back, but then I remembered the pain, the tears, the bruises. Love shouldn't hurt. He got angry then. I'll never forget how he yelled at me, or how when his hand hit my face it suddenly grew claws and fur. The effect traveled up his arm and soon throughout his whole body. He was a grotesque beast, and it was my fault. I'll never forget the scratches his claws left on my cheek, or the desperate way his eyes looked, pleading with me to do something.

Tears dripped down my face, the salt stinging the scratches terribly. And I walked away.

Those who saw him were terrified. Soon all our friends had gone away, frightened by this beast that haunted the castle where their friend had lived. They thought it had swallowed him up and they all moved far, far away. Only he and I knew the truth. And now her.

She changed him. Somehow she taught him a lesson I never could. Love shouldn't hurt. They walk and smile together, just like we used to. Soon he'll change back into a man, but twice the man he was. She'll stay with him and marry him and they'll be happy.

But what of me? I love him. I cursed him. And now I'm all alone.