Time Soothes All Sorrows

I was walking along the busy car filled road to work the other day and the thought of a wheat haired little prince popped up amongst the dull hum of the incessant brown noise in the back burner of my mind. Mostly work stress, personal issues, frustration and exhaustion. Although the ever elusive thin gold line of excitement for the unpredictable future that could potentially burst open and present all that it has to offer me at all times was in attendance as well, it was rather dim that morning.

The thought nearly brought me to tears as I watched my low heeled black boots tap tap tap against the muted gray of the pavement, complemented by the dirty white of the clouds in the sky right above. I was thinking of the line, “time soothes all sorrows” from one of my favorite comfort books, The Little Prince. I breathed in deep to mitigate any unwelcome tears before stepping into the lobby.

I think of the little prince more often nowadays. My dad got me a necklace for my birthday, depicting the little prince sitting and staring at his rose lovingly, contentedly. Sometimes I forget how much of myself comes from those who raised me from nothing into the woman I am today. How can I forget my dad, the original little prince enjoyer, in my mind anyway. He showed me how to open the old fashioned clasp and I wear it often now.

I think of the little prince, his rose, and everything she stands for. How he looks to the stars to remember her existence, in even the darkest of moments and days. When he’s lost, in the desert, amongst strange men, amongst other roses. I think of how in the book he says the desert is beautiful to him, because somewhere it hides a well. The stars are beautiful to look at, because somewhere within, his rose lives.

I touch the image that lays close to my heart. The little prince gazing at his rose, special because of the time spent on her, in adoration. I do this as I hide in my cubicle and hunch over my work laptop and shift uncomfortably in my monotone work clothes and it comforts me.

July 28, 2023