Dear Papa,

Forgive me for what I have become, for crushing your expectations. Forgive me for the disappointment I turned into and for shattering what you envisioned me to become. It was the soothing embrace of the darkness that captivated me, I felt torpid, broken; the pain almost addictive. But in the process of losing myself, I destroyed the future you visualised for me but trust me I'm trying papa. It is this fiend that has me captured in its perilous grasp and the stories it whispers that makes it hard. Every second seems to pass dreadfully and I wish you were here. Writing to you, even though I know this won't ever reach to you, makes me feel your presence like you're still here with me. It is your voice telling me not to be a prisoner to my defeats and the voices in my head, not to mistake them for my weakness and not to give up for there is a path decided for me that'll lead me to my success, to the happiness and beatitude I long for and it is that voice that I am certain will help me get through.

Yours always,
Katherine.

She knew instead of drowning herself in her sorrows she had to fight back and let go. Start again and hope for a better future. She wanted these constant obstacles she found herself stumble upon to strengthen her. Ever since a child, she was taught never to let hard times crush her, to use them and the struggle to overcome them as a means to strengthen her, to learn from experience and use it as an opportunity to grow stronger.

She was strong. She had to convince herself of that. Believe in herself. Set aside her worries and focus on the good aspects of her life, though there appeared to be none at the moment. This was the only way she could get through this.

She sighed and felt her vision getting blurry as tears welled up. She didn't feel strong. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to think of anything. All of this seemed too much to handle. Her body started shaking and she felt panic rising in her chest, her heart thudding rapidly, threatening to escape. Her raspy breaths felt like a call for help and a wave of dread had seemed to have taken over; she needed to get out.

She pushed the doors opened and kneeled on the floor, unable to breathe. The guards stood alert. "H-help," she stammered, gasping for air. "Katherine! Are you alright?" She heard a familiar voice question and felt herself being lifted and carried away.

"Take a long breath and exhale slowly, you're going to be fine." He tucked the loose ends of her hair behind her ear and gently held her hand until she was calm. She stared into those same mesmerising eyes she had met earlier.

"I am just overwhelmed. I feel homesick. This is all too much for me to deal with. I miss my family, I miss Charlie, I miss Papa. I don't know anyone here. How can I just believe these strangers residing here are my real family? That the people who raised me weren't my actual parents? How can I just accept that I am a royal? These titles. Oh god, I have started to loathe 'Your Highness' I'm just Katherine." He chuckled, "I wasn't born for this life. I feel trapped in this darkness, there's so much hurt and pain and I don't know how to feel, whether I should be mad at everyone or just let go. It's just so hard," she whispered.

"I feel like you're undervaluing and underestimating yourself and your strength. You must embrace all of this and let that strength emerge," he stared at the petite girl with unkempt hair and eyes that flecked with brown and emerald tinges, reminding him of a forest he'd willingly wander. "I can tell you already have everything you need to fight this and deal with it."

"It doesn't feel that way," she muttered. His eyes flickered to her lips that had a slight tint of pink. "Life has been nothing but unfair these past few years, at first I was devastated later I thought I would get through it now I'm back at stage one where I feel like giving up."

"Life has its ways of testing us and we're allowed to be wrecked and frustrated but what we must never do is give up. Let this pain and suffering, rage and whatever it is that you feel lead to your personal growth. Let it show you just how strong of a woman you are." The corners of her mouth slightly upturned and she felt the pressure and panic slowly relinquish, her fears drifting away with the cool, crisp wind.

"You have this light within; let it shine and show you the way out of this darkness you feel yourself trapped in."

"I never got a chance to introduce myself. I'm Edwin. Just Edwin," he smiled, the most captivating smile she had seen and his eyes sparkled. She giggled and felt herself smiling after a long time, it wasn't impossible after all.