2023 Issue 5 Sept/Oct Focus - Mid-South Magazine
Focus Mid-South Magazine
Focus Mid-South Magazine
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“Come sit with me, or is this earthly moss not good<br />
enough for your majesty?” Rapunzel teased. The lady<br />
cracked a small smile. Rapunzel gently pulled her down<br />
by the hand and the lady settled, resting beside her.<br />
“Name’s Rapunzel, I’m guessing yours is Aphrodite?” She<br />
smiled at the lady, the lady in turn tucked her head on<br />
Rapunzel’s shoulder.<br />
“You flatter me, but no, my name is Briar Rose. My friends<br />
call me Rosie.” “Could I be your friend?” Rapunzel asked,<br />
embarrassingly quickly.<br />
“You may.”<br />
Something warm settled in Rapunzel’s chest, Rosie was a<br />
pleasant weight at her side. “Now, what’s a precious thing<br />
like you doing in these dark and dangerous woods?” She<br />
pried. “I could ask you the same thing,” Rosie replied.<br />
Rapunzel blushed at the implication that she could be<br />
precious, no one considered her that before. “If you really<br />
must know I’m cursed. I live here in the night realms, I can<br />
enter others' dreams and you happen to be dreaming<br />
of a forest. So technically, it is your fault I'm here,” Rosie<br />
explained. “Now,” she continued, “What are you doing in<br />
a forest?”<br />
Rapunzel was still trying to process the fact that Rosie<br />
seemed to gloss over the severity of her curse and<br />
eventually regained enough of her senses to tell her tale.<br />
“I’m journeying to my home of Nettle,”<br />
Rosie made a disgusted noise.<br />
“What’s wrong with Nettle?” Rapunzel asked.<br />
“I live in Nettle. Well, my body is there. It's a wretched<br />
place with a wretched kind with no redeeming qualities<br />
whatsoever.” The princess was worked up so Rapunzel<br />
wrapped an arm around her to soothe her.<br />
“I’m sure Nettle has some redeeming qualities,”<br />
“Like what?” The princess huffed.<br />
“I mean, you live there, don’t you?”<br />
Rosie playfully slapped her arm.<br />
“Oh, you are such a flirt.” Though Rosie enjoyed the<br />
attention.<br />
“When I get to Nettle, I’ll find you and help you break<br />
your curse, how about that?” Rapunzel said, elated at her<br />
brilliant idea.<br />
Rosie suddenly stiffened, “Oh, I don’t know about that,”<br />
“Why? Do you doubt my abilities?” Rapunzel asked,<br />
teasing once again. After an uncomfortably long pause<br />
the princess whispered, “No… you are quite charming,”<br />
The world seemed to shift on its axis, Rapunzel became<br />
disoriented and it was increasingly difficult for her to see.<br />
“What’s happening?” She panicked.<br />
“You're ok. You’re just waking up.” Rosie said, getting<br />
up from Repunzel’s hold. “When will I see you again?”<br />
Rapunzel asked frantically, this couldn’t be their only<br />
meeting. “In your dreams,” Rosie faded behind the trees<br />
and with that Rapunzel awoke. She was now determined<br />
to get home and find Rosie.<br />
Read the rest of the story on focuslgbt.com.<br />
Elaina Nicholas (she/her) is a queer senior in high school. She spends<br />
much of her time in her school’s theater department. When she isn’t<br />
bringing life to the stage she enjoys other creative pursuits such as<br />
playwriting and art. She spent this past summer at SCAD taking<br />
creative writing and illustration classes.<br />
Want to see our full collection<br />
of The Prism Pages?<br />
Visit our website.<br />
The Prism Pages is a literary section in the magazine where original works of poetry and fiction from the community will be<br />
showcased. As a publishing company, we are committed to saving space for up-and-coming LGBTQ+ writers.<br />
Interested in submitting something? Email editor@focusmidsouth.com.<br />
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30 Go! | <strong>Sept</strong>+<strong>Oct</strong> <strong>2023</strong> | focuslgbt.com