“Unmasked by Love”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

Prompt: “Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” – James Baldwin

“I do.”

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now remove your masks.”

I take a deep breath. This is it, the moment of truth. What will he think of me? Will he still love me when he sees my face for the first time?

My sister’s hand tightens on my shoulder. Still masked herself, I can tell that she’s feeling the same nerves as me.

“Kellana?”

Moreno’s familiar smooth voice brings me back to reality.

“Are you ready?”

The slight tremble in his voice comforts me; he’s feeling the same insecurities as I am.

Slowly, he reaches up and grasps the bottom of my mask. I mirror his movements and take another deep breath.

Deep down, I know that I have no reason to be nervous. Moreno loves me, as I love him. Unmasking ourselves won’t change that.

“Yes,” I whisper, a smile spreading across my face. “I’m ready.”

Final Comments: This is actually a really interesting concept, since all facial features are removed so the characters need to rely on other types of communication. I’m seriously thinking about either turning this one into a short story or writing another one based on this concept.

Overall Rating: 😍