"Poker Nights" by Tayla Waterworth

“I am SO glad it’s finally Friday,” I sank down on the couch with a sigh of relief. “Pass me the wine would you?”

Rather than trust me with the bottle, Titania poured out a glass and quickly replaced the cork. The other girls nodded, grinning. They all knew what I was like after a few glasses, and after my stressful week I had a feeling I was going to have a hangover the following morning. Poker nights with the girls were always fun – wine, chocolate and gossiping about the men in our lives. What’s not to love?

Cinderella dealt out the cards and the game began, amidst much chatter. Naturally, the conversation turned quickly to men.

“Isn’t it sad how men change once you’re married?” Belle commented. “I mean, the Beast seemed so rugged and protective when we first met. Then we get married and suddenly he turns into a wimpy Prince Charming whose worst fear is getting a rip in his favourite velvet jacket.”

“I remember my first date with Oberon,” Titania sighed. “I thought he was such a romantic; he took me for a lovely moonlit picnic out in the woods. He seemed so big and manly. Now I watch him prancing around in his green tights and I cringe. Word of warning, girls: never marry a fairy, no matter how many animals he’s hunted.”

Of course we all laughed at that. Even Titania grinned; we all know she wouldn’t leave Oberon, no matter how much prancing he does. Oh, she’s had numerous affairs – including a much-rumoured scandal involving a human named Bottom – but I think deep down she truly loves her husband.

“At least you know Oberon really loves you,” Portia cut in with a grimace. “Bassanio is a perfect gentleman, but only a few days after we were married he gave away his wedding ring to some lawyer who saved his friend! I sometimes wonder about those two…Bassanio claims they’re best friends but when I see Antonio looking at him with that longing stare…”

“Anyone for chip n’ dip?” I interrupted hurriedly. We had all heard Portia’s story a hundred times before. It was almost as if she was proud of the cruel trick she had played on her poor new husband. If I were Bassanio, I would have left her just for that.

“My first date with my Prince was incredible,” Cinderella smiled dreamily. “It was like the ultimate prom – my dress was beautiful, my coach was gilded, I danced the night away with the love of my life…”

“And then ‘accidentally’ left your shoe behind when you had to run back to your cheap life at midnight,” Titania muttered into her glass. “Royalty shouldn’t marry commoners.”

This earned her a few glares from the others. Most of them had been as poor as church mice before they met their husbands.

“But I can understand what you mean when you say they change,” Cinderella continued as if Titania had never spoken. “All my Prince ever wants to do these days is hunt…he throws the biggest fit if I so much as mention buying a new dress.”

“’Though courtship turns frogs into princes, marriage turns them quietly back*’,” I quoted.

The others all nodded  and ‘mmm’ed in agreement as Titania claimed her pile of poker chips and started dealing again.

“I don’t know what you’ve got to complain about though, Christine,” Portia said suddenly. “Raoul’s never so much as glanced at another woman, and he’s still as sweet and kind as he was the day you met, right?”

“Mm-hm,” I mumbled. I really didn’t want to go into this.

“You have no idea how lucky you are,” Belle sighed wistfully. “You have a real man there; don’t lose him.”

“Where did he take you on your first date?” Titania asked.

The moment she said ‘first date’, my thoughts turned away from my husband. Images flashed before my mind of candles, an organ, a white mask in the darkness…and later, a love so strong that the pain from its loss caused me to hide in the arms of another man.

How could I explain to them that the man I had married was not the one I loved? My friends, as world-wise as they were, were all fairytale princesses. They could not understand that not everyone was born to have a happy ending.

“He took me to dinner…” I began slowly.

As I spoke, I watched their enraptured faces and I envied them. Could they not see that their husbands had become comfortable enough to show their real personalities? I would love Raoul to feel so at ease that he would throw a strop over my shopping, or give away a gift I had given him. Instead, he tiptoed around me, always trying to keep me happy and terrified that the slightest mistake would mean he would lose me.

I long for the magic of my first date to fade…I long for the comfortable relationship that marriage is supposed to bring. But most of all, more than anything else, I long for the man I love. Not Raoul, the sweet and kind Vicomte du Chagny, but for my dangerous and talented Erik…the elusive Phantom of the Opera Populaire.

*A Story Wet as Tears by Marge Piercy