Page 2 of Bianca and the Monsters

He pauses and I flinch a little when he blows out a harsher breath. “Baby, you have no problem attracting the one-syllable brigade, but maybe the reason you don’t keep them is that you don’t actually want the life they have to offer. So, you must ask yourself what life you want and with whom you want to share it. Then you need to go after what you want and not stop until you get it.

“You also need to accept that eventhatlife might not look the way you think. Princesses face challenges and they fight for what matters. It’s time for you to fight for yourself becauseyoumatter. And every one of these men who leaves takes a part of you with him, and good riddance to those dull parts that you don’t have to carry anymore. These idiots are doing you a favor, giving you the perfect chance to shed your skin and become someone new. You’re ready, B. I know it.”

“I love you, Daddy. So much.”

“And I love you, Princess Bianca. You will always be the best part of me and the greatest triumph of my life. Now, eat some ice cream as God intends for all people suffering heartbreak and get some sleep, and tomorrow, it’s time to begin living the life you were meant to live.”

“I will. I promise.”

We end the call and I embrace my phone, wishing my dad hadn’t moved south for the winter and never migrated back. But maybe that was for a reason; maybeeverythingis for a reason. Maybe I’m not behind everyone else in the game of life. Maybe I’m just playing a different game. I have a career, which I’m entirelymehabout, and friends I don’t share any common interests with anymore. Boy, childhood friends can take a bunch of off-ramps into crazytown and become familiar-looking strangers over the years.

“What’s actually keeping me here?” I ask aloud to my stylishly decorated living room.

I do like my house, but is that enough to stay stuck in this rut I callTuesday? And if I were a princess, is this where I’d want to rule…alone… talking to my furniture?

I’m suddenly imagining singles’ cruises, epic climbing adventures, maybe even a zipline or a tango class. But all of that seems too small, too normal, too prone to drive me into the paths of other monosyllabically monikered men.

“I know what I have to do…”

Chapter2

Nicodemus

Ican barely breathe as I watch beautiful Bianca on the screen of our beloved vintage television, acquired with great care more than fifty years ago and brought to our realm without a scratch. It’s a massive piece that the humans would judge for its lack of modernity—they hang everything on the walls these days or wear them on their wrists—but sometimes old things are the best things.

Bianca’s blue eyes shine so brightly and purpose fills every word as she declares for all the world, “I know what I have to do…”

“She’s going to figure it out—finally,” Pennie says, emphatic as always. He’s always been so certain about Bianca. He found her first, while playing with all the channels on the television, matching frequencies to the lives of the humans on the other side of the border.

“She’s got this,” Archie declares in his rough baritone voice, more filled with hope than certainty, his lavender hue darkening slightly with nerves he’d never admit.

Taran worries his bottom lip and leans against my soft fur, cuddling closer while I wrap my arm around him. He says not a word, but all his hopes are as evident as the bright colors of his fluttering feathers.

We’re all leaning forward in our embroidered chairs, awaiting the next words to come from Bianca’s mouth, praying she speaks them rather than keeping them to herself. Thankfully, for us, she’s a big fan of vocalizing her internal dialogue, which certainly kept us viewing back when she was a stranger to us, rather than the almost sole focus of our lives. We even had shirts made, Team Bianca,naturally.

“… I need to…”

The screen is suddenly overtaken by static and all four of us leap to our feet.

“No!” I shout as Archie rushes toward the television, fritzing with the rabbit ear antennas, growling loudly through his tusks as we search the screen for the only image we desire.

The crackling of the static taunts us as we know we’re missing it, her moment of claiming her life as her father instructed. She will. I know it. If not today, then definitely tomorrow. No more Jacks… orLances. She deserves better.

Archie’s massive body contorts as his enormous arms maneuver the thin metal of the antennas, while he leans to see the screen.

“You’ve got it!” Pennie bellows the second the picture clears, steam escaping him in his excitement. When Archie leans away, Pennie snaps, “No, don’t let it go… just stand there. Put your arm in the air!”

Archie grumbles in response but remains where he is, one hand on the antenna, the other held high in the air for some reason. He’s still leaning awkwardly, seeking to witness Bianca’s big moment.

Though I’m not currently breathing, my arm continues to hold Taran tightly as we watch Bianca nod to herself.

“I’m ready,” she says in almost a growl. “I’m ready to change. I’m ready to grow and leave the past behind. I’m ready for something new.” She looks up at the ceiling as though expecting someone to be looking down at her. “I’M READY FOR MY ADVENTURE!” she sing-shouts. “Iwillbe a badass princess!!!!” Then she begins to dance around with no music at all, in some sort of war dance or possibly a form of frolicking.

“Yes!” Pennie roars, still standing, now raising his hands in the air like a winning boxer after a fight.

“She’s ready,” Taran says softly beside me, clinging to me.

“She is.” I nuzzle the top of his head with my furry chin. “She’s ready to begin her journey. We can’t know whether that will lead her to us, but it’s time to discover exactly that.”

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