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“I escaped. I survived. I will find my way home.” This is the mantra I repeat to myself every morning.
Ever since that witch discovered I had met and married my beautiful Rapunzel, life has been challenging. I thought the witch was going to kill me, but I managed to elude her curse. Unfortunately, I did lose my eyesight in the thorn bushes in my escape.
I so often hear my Rapunzel’s song in my dreams. Oh, that I could hear it again and hold her in my arms!
Slowly, I have become accustomed to living in the forest. The animals here have befriended me, helping me find food, build shelter, and begin to search for clues to find my missing wife.
We have been searching for several years now. Deep into the forest. Mrs. Cat has been a wonderful scout. She heard from the squirrels about a young pregnant girl taken North by the witch several years ago.
The birds have reported seeing some young children playing in the glen on the other side of the mountain. It’s about two week’s journey by foot.
I set off with the assistance of Mr. Wolf. He has been my eyes for the past two years. He gently guides me up the trail and around the mountain.
We traverse above rivers and around felled trees. Carefully treading to stay alert to more clues of the whereabouts of my family. I’ve gotten quite adept at sensing my way through the forest over the years with the help of Mr. Wolf.
We’ve been traveling nearly two weeks now. The forest is much denser on this side of the mountain.
Rapunzel’s song is echoing in my mind now, but it feels so much more real. Children are echoing her voice. Am I dreaming?
The music is louder now, not at all like it was in my dream. I feel her touch on my face.
“Friedrich.” She says my name softly, “It is I, your Rapunzel!”
“I have heard you so often in my dreams. Is this real?”
“Yes, dear. You are awake. You are alive! I thought the evil witch had destroyed you!”
Our sweet reunion was filled with many tears and hugs.
Suddenly, I realized I could sense more light than before. I stood back and grabbed Mr. Wolf for support.
I blinked.
More light. Some shapes.
Blinked again.
I could just make out the blurry forms of my wife, children, and woodland friends.
More blinking.
I can see again! Rapunzel’s tears must have healed me! What wonder! What joy!
We danced for what seemed like hours. All of our dreams were finally coming true!
Rapunzel introduced me to the two children she had just after the witch removed her from the tower, Erich and Emma. They were just approaching their third birthday.
We returned to my palace and were warmly welcomed by my parents and the rest of the kingdom.
One day as I was out exploring the forest to reconnect with my woodland friends, I came across an old man out walking along the path.
“Hello, sir, what is your business here in the forest?” I asked.
“I have walked out here every day for the last twenty years, ever since the day my daughter was taken from me.”
He told me the story of how an evil witch took his baby daughter away as payment for his trespassing. His grief and guilt were so heavy, the daily walk in the woods was his only relief.
I went home and told my wife about the old man and his story. The next day, I returned to that same spot, but this time with my wife, twins, and newborn daughter. The old man approached but froze when he saw our infant child.
“R…r….rapunzel?”
“Yes?” My wife questioned.
“No. I mean the baby.”
“Her name is Matilda. My name is Rapunzel.”
The old man stood still, looking from Matilda to Rapunzel.
“My name is Rapunzel, and I was raised by an evil witch who never told me much about my past. Did you have a daughter named Rapunzel?”
The old man told her the story of his grief and commented how much our baby looked like his daughter. “Could it be? Might you be my long-lost daughter?”
“It is possible, but I don’t know if there is a way to guarantee it. It would be wonderful if that is true, though!”
“Come, meet my wife. Perhaps she can help.”
Some of our woodland friends took the children back to the castle while we followed the man into the village and into his home to meet his wife. As we sat sharing stories with each other, the room suddenly became dark.
The witch appeared in the middle of the room.
“Rapunzel! How dare you! You insolent creature!”
She was clearly going to try to take Rapunzel again, but as she approached, she tripped and fell onto the old woman’s spinning wheel needle. The needle pierced her cloak and struck her in the back, and she disappeared into thin air. We could immediately sense her power had left the room.
Startled by this mystery, we all paused to ensure she was really gone, and then celebrated the reunion of Rapunzel with her parents.
They packed up their belongings and moved into the castle with us, keeping the spinning wheel in the corner as a reminder of the events that first tore their family apart but eventually brought them back together again. No one dared touch it, though sometimes, late at night, the wheel still seemed to turn.
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