The Girl

BAND OF THE MONTH: APRIL IN THIS MOMENT

A boy named Baelfire, a man self-named Neal died on Once Upon a Time.

He was the reason Rumple created the Dark Curse.

His son was the reason Emma broke it.

He never caught a break, from fandom or from storyline.

His Papa loved him, his mother left him.

He left the love of his life at the moment she most needed him. Unwittingly, he left his son.

He was betrayed by Hook, lied to by his Papa, languished for lifetimes upon his grandfather’s island where he could not age.

He sacrificed himself for his second family by going with the Shadow, he saved the residents of Storybrooke multiple times, surrendered his life to Emma and Henry so that his Papa could save the town.

He only ever wanted two things: to love his son and his son’s mother–and to be loved enough that his Papa would choose him over power.

Neal Cassidy, you are the great narrative What If.