The well has almost completely dried up now. Even if she wanted to go back, it would be impossible. Not that she does. Edward would be devastated if she left him.
Except, sometimes, she wonders if he would be, really. Sometimes, it feels as if any princess would do, as if Happily Ever After was set in stone, and all it needed was the characters.
When she thinks about it, she almost feels (what was it, that word…oh yes --) anger, except it fizzles and dies as quickly as it comes. Anger isn't allowed here and neither are any other negative emotions. Giselle almost misses Narissa, because at least she gave variety to this life. But she's gone, good triumphing over evil once more, and she's a princess living the fairytale. It could be worse, so much worse (and she's heard stories, of princesses trapped in towers, girls forced to labor under wicked stepmothers, but she can't quite remember where she heard them because nothing of the sort has ever happened here) and she should be grateful. She has her prince and her kingdom, which is all she used to want, all that she can allow herself to want now. The well is dried up, she waited too long, and she'd almost feel regret, if she could, but that's just another negative emotion.
She loves Edward, she has her dream life, and she's happy. If none of that is quite true, well, it's not quite false either.
Giselle smiles brightly enough to bring tears to her eyes. She's living Happily Ever After, a life of half truths and almosts. She thinks she'd cry, except happy is a prerequisite of Ever After. She laughs instead, singing as beautifully as any caged songbird.
