Snow White's childhood was something she rarely spoke of. She was sure that others assumed that she was hesitant to speak of whatever horrors she lived through in her time sharing a home with the Evil Queen.
But Regina's temper had not always been quick to flare, to burn like fire in the palm of her hand.
She had once been ice.
The memories of their shared life were cold, frigid, and it was a wonder that the goodness and warmth in Snow White did not freeze along with Regina's.
She remembered as a child how she craved warmth. Her father was doting, but he could not give her the friendship, the love she had hoped Regina would provide.
But the girl on the horse faded into darkness and cold as the queen continuously denied whatever genuine and selfless connection they may have had.
And as Snow grew, she wept for the loss.
Slowly, her family's palace was removed from all light and warmth, and she could only fault the person who had once embodied both of those things.
But now, standing in front of Daniel's grave, Snow realized how deeply Regina was hurting, how deeply she had always been hurting.
And Snow, who had never wanted anything other than to see Regina happy, to be the cause of her happiness, finally saw how she was to blame for all the ice between them.
Each time she had spoken of love, each time she had trusted Cora to have her daughter's best interests at heart, each time she had believed her father could do no wrong, could act with nothing but kindness, she had been betraying Regina.
She had imprisoned her in a palace away from everything she had ever loved and wanted.
Her every act had been a betrayal of the person who taught her the meaning of true love. The person who had shown her who she wanted to be.
Quiet sobs rose in her throat, and she should have been ashamed that David was far from her mind.
Instead she looked at Regina, and saw the hate and anguish in her eyes. She saw how she had condemned them both to unyielding cold.
And as Snow let the pain of this run through her, she bit into the apple and let the ice of her own treachery encase her.