Dear Princess, I intend to book some tickets for the Globe Theatre, during July or August. Leaving about 3pm on the train, dinner before the performance, home late. I was wondering if you would be my guest. Prince

Dear Prince, sounds lovely. Not sure about being home late; will have to ask my fairy godmother... Princess

Dear Princess, if you ask your fairy godmother she will tell you that you have to be home before midnight; which you might not. You will have to persuade her to bend the rules a little. Just a thought; I think glass slippers would not be comfortable for walking around London. Prince

Well dear Prince, my fairy godmother is a busy lady and I can’t get hold of her. It’s not just arriving home late, and the consequences that may bring… we’re not just talking about a riches to rags story here but a whole knock-on domino effect that may last up to a week after our soiree. If I’m home late I will be tired when I pick up my three daughters from fairy godmother the next day. Coping with a moody nine-year-old, a hyperactive seven-year-old and a whingy three-year-old is difficult even on 10 hours of sleep. And if I have even one small glass of champagne I am guaranteed to have a night of broken sleep which makes the prospect of childcare for above three demanding (sorry, I mean highly spirited) children. What I’m really worried about is the emotional implications of going to the theatre with you Prince, whilst still living with my husband (I must hasten to add that even though I am still living with my husband we have been separated for five months and are getting divorced; for the duration I have been sleeping on the floor in hyperactive seven-year-old’s room). It’s complicated. Princess

Dear Princess
Life often is complicated. Your fairy godmother may tell you that things will get better, but often they have to get worse first. Believe me I know; I got divorced myself five years ago. We could just ditch the Globe and take the kids for a picnic down the beach instead if that’s easier? Prince

Prince. No. I do not want to pass up the opportunity to go out for once and have FUN. Life has been difficult and if I am honest with you (I know we hardly know each other but I need to say this to someone) I feel like I am drowning in the sadness of the end of my marriage. Its true that I hadn’t been happy for years and maybe I’ve sacrificed too much of me in order to keep all the other people in my family happy, but you never expect the end to be like this. I understand that this life experience brings anger and pain, but no-one could have prepared me for the darkness that has usurped my heart. Sorrowfully…Princess

Dear Princess
You are in a dark place at the moment, but eventually life will get lighter. It seems you are thinking deeply about your experience. You must remember that some questions have no answers… Prince

Well Prince, you are right; and some answers are not really answers, are they? The trouble is this experience has made me question who I am, to the very core. I was watching my pet rabbit today and when it is hot he lies in the shade, and when the biting winter wind whistles into his cage he huddles in his straw. He is conditioned to do this and accepts his lot unquestioningly (that is, assuming that rabbits do not question their existence. Do you think that maybe they do Prince?). Us slightly more evolved creatures weren’t just put here to lie in the shade or hide in the straw though, were we Prince? And now I find myself in a glaring heat that I can find no shade from, and yet inside the icy chill that has bent my heart has frozen me into this place that I don’t want to be in anymore. I am trapped. What would you suggest? Princess

Dear Princess

Life can indeed be both very hot and very cold. But Princess, you have forgotten that there is a great range of temperatures in between. What is it that stops you from stepping out of the heat into the shade, if only for a short while? Prince

Oh Prince, if only it were so simple. Just to be able to let go, sit down and rest in your shade. How heavenly the thought! I fear the shade though. Does if offer me respite or will it mark the beginning of another life experience that is entered with naïve, beautiful enthusiasm only to turn to sacrifice, pain and want? Just as I cannot afford the luxury of crumbling under the pain that suffocates my being, I cannot afford the luxury of resting in your shade. Sorry, Princess

Dear Princess
I think I understand. You are in an emotional maze; you cannot grieve for what is lost, and you cannot yet move on. You’ve lost your heart Princess. You will find it again though. That I can promise, as I was in that maze and I made my way out. Many others did the same before me. Many, many will do the same after you. Prince

But Prince, I am not sure I want to find my way out at the moment? At least in this maze I am safe from all the people out there outside of the maze. Princess

Dear Princess, is there anything I can say to show you that the outside of the maze is OK?

NO

Dear Princess, then if you could say but one thing now, what would it be? Prince

Dear Prince. This is easy; just let me go. Please, just let me go…

Princess, of course I will let you go. I hate to see you suffer so, Prince

Not you silly, the other one, Princess.