persona
39
Mask from the Rack by Krystell Diane Parcon
"I will wear this mask today," I said as I picked the pink mask from the rack, I need to appear womanly. I will be meeting my girl friends in a salon today and, even if I hate putting heavy acrylics in my nails, I will come. I don't want them to say I'm prude and boring. The day was fun. When I went home before the clock struck midnight, the first thing I did was take off the mask and put it back in the rack. I looked at the mirror and I can see my plain face again. I removed the acrylics. Oh, what a relief. "I will wear this mask today," I said as I picked the yellow mask from the rack, I need to appear kind and excited. I will be meeting my family and relatives for Thanksgiving and, even if I usually hate social gatherings because I'm busy, I will come. I don't want them to think I'm disrespectful and a workaholic. The day was fun. When I went home before the clock struck midnight, the first thing I did was take off the mask and put it back in the rack. I looked at the mirror and I can see my plain face again. I went back to my study table and started typing. Oh, what a relief. "I will wear this mask today," I said I picked the red mask from the rack, I need to appear in love. I will be meeting the man my parents had set me to marry and, even if I can't find a connection between us, I will come. I don't want to disappoint them. The day is... scary. He put something in the food I ate and the next thing I know, I'm in a dark room and he's panting beside me. I looked around shaking in fear. My mind is blank and my body is sore. He touched me, He used me. He raped me. "I just wanted to check you before I marry you. I know you had fun." He's a pure stranger, a foreign one. "What time is it?" I asked him. No, the mask asked him. "Five minutes after midnight." I stood upon the realization. The world seemed like a spiraling maze. My legs are weak, and my waist is arching in pain. I ran to the bathroom and faced the mirror. I shrieked in horror. "If you fail to unwear, you and all the masks will become one." The mask is hideous. The mask is horrifying. It's my plain face.
