Art by Tammy Vitale
______________________
She wandered into the luxuriously appointed bathroom, avoiding the reflection in the mirror that held little resemblance to the vibrant woman she once was. Hair that once curled flirtatiously around her shoulders, now hung limply down her back. Jacqueline knew now, why he insisted she keep it long.
Her hands trembled as she carefully applied her makeup, critically examining the results in the mirror. Despite her diligence, she knew he would find fault. He always did.
The backless red silk hung in her walk-in closet, replaced now with the dress neatly laid out on the bed. The black sequined dress would better camouflage the tell-tale signs of his most recent disciplining.
He quietly came into the room, placing his hands on her shoulders; more an act of possession rather than affection. She sincerely doubted he was capable of the latter. Jacqueline suppressed a shudder of revulsion when he bent down and kissed her neck.
“We’ll have a wonderful evening,” he murmured in her ear. His voice took on a hardened edge as he added, “Provided, of course, you behave.”
She watched in the mirror as he left the room, his warning an oppressive fog hanging thickly in the room. Closing her eyes to steady her pounding heart, she reminded herself that tomorrow would be different.
Tomorrow was the beginning of a new day, a new life.
Tomorrow she would wear a new face.
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10 comments:
Each day she struggled to know which to wear. In the end, she wore nothing, and no one noticed.
oooh. rosebud101....oooooh.
Thanks for picking "Her Story" for your prompt today. I love to see what folks get inspired to write! Me -I'm currently enmeshed in tags and admin...necessary and creative in its own way, but, ugh.
I'm just feeling blobbity purple today. And I know I wear one mask with Jimmy and another with Bob, but what can I do? Jimmy makes me feel sexy. Bob condescends. Too bad I'm married to the latter....
My Attitude: My Choice
Today
many things will come my way.
Today
I'll have many things to say.
Each moment
I have a choice.
Each moment
I can be blue or rejoice.
Each time,
it's not so much what happens to me, but
Each time
it's what I choose to be.
Blue or gold?
The story's untold.
My attitude?
My choice.
Today.
Each moment.
Each time.
My choice.
I'm going for the gold!
Peering out the window of the world sponging its daily dose of misinformation. We, alone, must decide which face to apply, hoping for comedy, but deceptively its tragedy.
She wandered into the luxuriously appointed bathroom, avoiding the reflection in the mirror that held little resemblance to the vibrant woman she once was. Hair that once curled flirtatiously around her shoulders, now hung limply down her back. Jacqueline knew now, why he insisted she keep it long.
Her hands trembled as she carefully applied her makeup, critically examining the results in the mirror. Despite her diligence, she knew he would find fault. He always did.
The backless red silk hung in her walk-in closet, replaced now with the dress neatly laid out on the bed. The black sequined dress would better camouflage the tell-tale signs of his most recent disciplining.
He quietly came into the room, placing his hands on her shoulders; more an act of possession rather than affection. She sincerely doubted he was capable of the latter. Jacqueline suppressed a shudder of revulsion when he bent down and kissed her neck.
“We’ll have a wonderful evening,” he murmured in her ear. His voice took on a hardened edge as he added, “Provided, of course, you behave.”
She watched in the mirror as he left the room, his warning an oppressive fog hanging thickly in the room. Closing her eyes to steady her pounding heart, she reminded herself that tomorrow would be different.
Tomorrow was the beginning of a new day, a new life.
Tomorrow she would wear a new face.
Every day she struggled to choose which to wear ...
The blue called to her eyes, but the gold called to her heart.
"Well, I'll leave them both off for now, and pick one tomorrow," she concluded, every time.
Every day she struggled to know which to wear. A life of masks imprisoned her spirit and hid her energy. Waking each day, she had to play the false self and wear a mask to please different audiences in her life. Does she wear the blue mask and fulfill the mother role? Does she wear the gold mask and attempt to operate in the stifling, corporate world? Looking in the mirror, she needs to think of herself unmasked. A naked face to the world, she was willing to say with vulnerability, "This is what I am. I will not wear that mask today. Accept what you see. I need to feel free again."
Monica- yours reminds me of Sleeping with an Enemy. I just couldn't get Julia Roberts out of my head! :) Good job!
Every day, she struggled:
Which to wear?
What to say?
Who is she going to be, today?
Chameleon-like, she changes
To suit her surroundings.
Calm, loving mother.
Amorous lover.
Efficient manager,
Organiser extraordinaire.
Chauffeur, chef,
Nurse, Gardener.
Teacher, plumber,
Enginer, writer.
Launderess, curtain maker,
Dresser, scribe.
But where is she?
Hiding behind the masks
Of her life,
How does she show herself?
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