“The Lady, or the Tiger?” Continuation

. . . . . .

He went to the door on the right, opened it. He was astounded. Had it been the tiger, he would have been pieces already. The astonishment had deprived him from the enjoyment of survival. As if it was the princess herself. He looked at the scenery a second time. He thought that the distress had driven him insane. The lady approached him. He was trying to come to his senses. It was after the lady embraced him and he lost the amazing sight that he realized what had happened -or better to say not happened.

The warmth, the smell, the breath, the caress, the feeling, everything was exactly those of the princess. For one fleeting moment, he felt as if he was dreaming. While clasping her tightly, in order not to let his sweet dream escape, he looked up to see if the princess was still there, watching the scene. The princess was present. He saw the princess glaring at him furiously, typical of any woman watching her lover enfolding and enfolded. But he still could not let the lady go. He was attached to the pleasant feeling. He had experienced it several times before. He knew the sensation so well that he could be sure it was the princess he was embracing. But his logic opposed him. The lady was silent. The man was afire to hear her voice.

The shouts of joy and celebration soon rose from the multitude. The couple was surrounded by the crowd. The noise and commotion did not allow him to realize what was happening. The wedding was literally taking place. He so much desired the princess. He was hesitant whether to be sorrowful or not, for everything about the lady was precisely the same as the princess’ and in addition to that, the princess was far beyond his reach. Considering the brutal king, their unity was beyond imagination. Not having the chance to be with his beloved anymore, being with someone so similar to her was sheer bliss, the best he could have. The multitude was continuing the celebration, totally indifferent to the couple. Finally, after all the ceremonial sequences the couple was escorted to their home.

At last, they were all by themselves. The man did not seem disappointed, for he had received something exactly resembling what he had always craved. On the other hand, the lady did not look pleased. It was not that she did not like the man, every girl in that area wanted to have his company. The lady, who struggled so hard to reach that point, was disappointed at the man’s delight. The lady, who had searched enough to find a girl just like the princess and took risks to switch the position of the two, was the princess herself.

Now, she was wondering whether the love of the man for her was genuine. The man who did not seem so sad for having lost the princess and who appeared to be satisfied with being given one apparently like the royal one. The lady was totally confused, was not sure what to do.

The question of her decision is one not to be lightly considered, and it is not for me to presume to set myself up as the one person able to answer it. And so I leave it with all of you. What did the lady do, — stayed, or left?

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