photo by Wynand von Poortvliet – click here for full res version
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She sits on the parapet, looking down to the rocks below. How many times has she unfurled her crowning glory, let the silken rope tumble from her shoulders, down the tower walls to yet another True Love, each hair root a point of agony, pulled until it seems her scalp will moult like snakeskin?
And how many times has that Love proved less than True?
Grey strands silver the golden mane now, a testament to how long she’s waited, how many chances she’s given the Fairy Tale. But no more.
Slowly, she begins to wind the leaden plait about her arm, around one wrist and onto the other until she’s manacled. Only now will she be free.
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Written for Sonya at Only 100 Words’ Three Line Tales. See the pic, write a tale, why don’t you? See here for full Ts and Cs.
Word Shamble 
I have been heartbroken and betrayed several times. I must admit, it is really devastating and depressing but committing suicide never entered my mind. Hope she’d change her mind soon. Another wonderful tale!
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I’m sorry to hear about your own heartbreak – I hope that’s long behind you now. My thought was that she was tying her own hands to stop herself from letting down her hair and falling for Love’s tricks again. Sad but not suicidal. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
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Thank’s for clarifying Lynn, I got caught with the sad love story that the first thing that crossed my mind when tying a rope is to commit suicide. But it is still a wonderful and emotional tale.
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You weren’t the only one who read it that way, so it must be something in my telling. Interesting, how we intend one thing and it comes out another. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
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Oh I like where you went this.
I take it she’s about to jump out wrapped in her hair.
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Thank you! Actually I thought she was just tying herself up so she couldn’t fall for another ‘True Love’ who isn’t. But you’re the second person who thought she was going to end it all. Interesting how intention and interpretation can differ! Thanks so much for reading 🙂
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It sounds as though you’ve let loose a lot of macabre imaginings. Very dark, this one. Btw I didn’t think she was going to kill herself.
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Haha! Thanks Jane. Yes, dark tales and dark interpretations. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
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I think it’s the association of ‘leaden plaits’ with ‘manacles’. Shivers.
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Yes. Maybe went a bit too dark there. But that is my natural inclination 🙂
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There’s so much more to be got out of nasty than nice 🙂
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Haha! True, Jane. 🙂
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Oooh, what a contrast of image and words in the last line. Personally, I’d just have chopped off the hair and used it to abseil, but whatever sets her free, right? Great take on the photo 🙂
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Haha! Probably a more workable solution, to be honest! Thanks Sonya and thanks for another great prompt 🙂
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I just thought she was giving up on true love…to never let down her hair again, to stay trapped in her tower. Didn’t see it the other way at all. Good 3 lines for the prompt!
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Thank you 🙂 Yes, that was exactly my intention. Sad but bitter experience has driven her to it. Thanks for reading 🙂
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oh. will she tie herself to end her life, or will she tie her heart to stop loving again?
This is such a lovely take, Lynn! Mysterious and engrossing. ❤
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Thank you! Just suffering for the pain of disappointing love, I think. I believe she’ll stay inside her tower alone now – maybe she’ll take to writing her stories down … 🙂
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Oooh. that’s lovely!
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🙂
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What a lovely, cynical fairy tale.:) I think she made the right decision – any decent bloke would have thrown up a rope, instead of climbing up her hair. I hope she hasn’t tied herself up so tight that she can’t make herself a cup of coffee 🙂
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Haha! You’re quite right, Jane. All those blokes putting her through all that pain when a proper gent would have nipped down to Screwfix and bought a decent ladder! Hopefully she’ll find solace in reading, a correspondence course in castle repairs – creating a roof garden 🙂
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That should keep her from getting any daft ideas about romance 🙂
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Quite right too 🙂
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