Published December 28, 2011

To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved. ~ George MacDonald

I still have nightmares, sometimes, about being in that hourglass. It was claustrophobic enough being confined in a glass jar; but slowly being buried alive – to say I was terrified would be an understatement. I called out to Aladdin; even if he couldn't save me, I wanted to tell him, I love you.

Then, when he broke me out of the hourglass, instead of thanking him, I exclaimed, "What have you done?" It seems I'm always asking that, especially of him.

"Just trust me!" he replied. And I have, ever since.

Loving and trusting are two very different things. You can trust someone you hate, or love someone you can't trust.

I've never actually regretted trusting Aladdin. But it did frustrate me every time he lied or kept a secret from me. First there was the Prince Ali charade; then he covered that up with a lie; and later covered for Iago. That time, I really got upset; but, as always, I forgave him. Because, he never lies or keeps secrets for bad or selfish reasons.

It did bother me when Aladdin lied about his father, trying to hide the fact that Cassim was the King of Thieves. But this time, I didn't get upset with him, for two reasons. One, which I voiced later, was that he had done it out of love for his father, which was something I could understand. The other was that, I was starting to get the feeling that lies and secrets were just part of Aladdin.

Sometimes I wonder if part of the reason he does it so much is that he just isn't used to living with and trusting so many people. He grew up a street rat; he's used to being dishonest if it was necessary to survive. And when we first met, he lied in order to help me, pretending that I was his crazy sister.

Trouble follows Aladdin wherever he goes. Some of it he has no control over; some of it is caused by his own mistakes. But I've accepted this about him. Why? Because when he does make mistakes, he always tries to set things right.

I think it's worth having nightmares, because, now that we're married, Aladdin is there to comfort me. He was the one who broke the hourglass; and he is the one who pulls me out of my dream. He gently shakes me awake, whispers soothing words, and holds me in his arms until I fall asleep.