Here is my offering for Sunday Photo Fiction this week, inspired by the photo below. Why not take part? And why not visit Alastair’s photography and writing blog to take a look at his other photos…?
Copyright – Kattermonran
– Unmasked –
I should be ecstatic. Earlier, as I draped myself in liquid silk, I had imagined myself gazing down at the old me, a rat-child from the slums, and smiled. If only I had known.
If only.
It was only yesterday. I had trawled through the crooked streets behind the shopping district, searching for the perfect foil to my emerald gown.
The shopkeeper’s eyes had lit up at my request. He disappeared into the depths of his ramshackle shop, finally hobbling towards me with an impossibly glamorous box, triumphant.
He pushed it into my outstretched hands, let me open it and grinned at the gasp I had no time to hide. “For you, my lady, this mask is free. A gift for your first night at the palace.”
I protested, but not too hard. He bounced on his feet, ushered me out of the door, slapped the ‘Closed’ sign against the glass and turned off the lights behind me.
I had the perfect mask.
Perfect for clearing my vision. Perfect for revealing the dirty, twisted, conniving, bitter, preening souls of the sycophants thronging the ballroom, desperate for royalty’s favour.
And I was one of them.
Freya Writes... 
Brilliant – wonderful closing,and a statement on society I rather adore,if I may say so.
Thank you 🙂
I had several possible endings to this in my head, but to be honest thought that the narrator had made herself part of this ‘upper echelon’ so therefore had the capacity to be as shallow as everyone else… I try not to shy away from self-awareness…
I think that hard-edged irony is very much part of what made the piece one that resonates after the last line. Truly enjoyed.
I love the idea of the mask that clears the vision! Excellent.
Thank you, Steve.
That is an awesome ending. Fantastic 🙂
Thank you – I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
Excellent! You wove a web with words and caught me!
Thank you! Spider is my middle name…. 😉
I love this story! Thanks for the link to the wonderful wall art. It is glorious!!!!
Thank you! You’re welcome 🙂
Isn’t it so true that masks cover up the darker sides of us, both figurative and palpable. I like that the protagonist looks not only at others to see the truth, but at herself. It seems, a moment of enlightenment. Nicely written!
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
The last paragraph is a perfect read. Excellent.
Thank you!