The Day You Decide

Paloma was summoned to court in the middle of the night by the Queen of Fear. Perched on her throne, the Queen wore a tarnished crown and a lopsided smile. Or was it a sneer? Paloma wasn’t sure. Her handmaidens, Anxiety and Dread, stood frozen on either side. 

Paloma cast her eyes about, eager to leave, only to find she, too, was stuck in place, mesmerized by this Queen. Many eager followers were also in attendance, all of them a twitter, but the Queen was clearly bored and distracted, hungry for more diversion.

“So, what brings you here,” her eyes narrowed in on Paloma.

Paloma was confused. “I was summoned.” 

“Were you? I don’t recall that.” The Queen looked first to Anxiety, then to Dread, who murmured incoherent sounds of assent.

“Why else would I be here?” 

“Why, indeed? Few are truly summoned here. The Queen looked over a growing crowd filling her court. They usually come on their own.” 

The room seemed to contract and expand, making Paloma feel claustrophobic. She was desperate to leave.

“You look a little peaked, dear. Do you need a rest?” 

The words were nice, but no so comforting coming from this Queen. “No, no. I am okay. I think I should be going now.” But when she turned to do so, Paloma found she still could not move. 

“Far be it from me to tell you what to do, but often those who cannot make a decision come to my court, and here they remain.”

 “What decision have I to make?” 

The Queen laughed out loud. “Oh, goodness, there are so very many. Apart from the basics, including being honorable and true, you hold yourself back—stuck—because you’ve made your mind a pretzel and put your life on hold with your what if this, what if that questions. You can no longer hear yourself think, so you’ve chosen me to rule.”

Chosen?  Was that true? Anxiety and Dread became more wide-eyed. Anxiety, unable to take a step, bobbed her head, her arms flailing. She looked beseechingly at Paloma.

Oh dear, thought Paloma. Let that not be my fate. A heart whisper rose to her ears, “For the love of Love, decide not to be stuck. Do something. Anything.”

Paloma curtsied. “I do have things I must do.” She thought she saw Dread give her the slightest smile. 

The Queen nodded consent and bid her farewell. “Nicely played.”

But Paloma barely heard the Queen’s parting words, so swiftly did she take her leave.

***

The day you decide to do it is your lucky day. (Japanese Proverb)