To Make Perfect
By Koda Paradis
Peter tapped the mallet against the chisel, small bits of marble fell to the floor. Half finished statues littered his gallery. Torn paintings, smudged drawings, snapped figurines, and shattered busts the only decor his house had come to know.
This new statue had shown promise, as the bottom half was complete. One hand clutched a long dress that seemed to be blown back by the wind. The underside fluffy with false ruffles while the front remained as smooth as silk. Further up, the small pock marks of the chisel created false lace that adorned the woman’s chest. A string of pearls hung close to the neck, while her right hand reached out towards an unknown specter. A small ring adorned her finger.
Another tap of the mallet.
The statue’s hair was pulled back into a bun, with loose strands blown flat against her head. A small tiara like clip was fashioned at the top, and from it flowed a veil that caught the nonexistent wind. It covered the face of the woman and gathered by her neck, threatening to choke the air from her throat the minute she dared to breathe.
Peter sat back and admired his work.
It was almost perfect. The dress, her hair, the wind-torn look. Yet, he frowned, for her face was never right.
Every attempt in every form, he never got her face.
He worked hard to get her smile just right, though he was always met with the agony of that day. Eyes wide, mouth open, a silent scream never to be heard again. She reached for him, and he never looked back.
No matter what he did, that undying anger always found its home in her eyes.
Like then, Peter smiled, as his imperfect muse toppled to the ground and shattered.
Koda Paradis is a dreamer with far too much time on their hands, determined to share their bizarre thoughts with the world. Though often found in the realms of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, there is no genre too strange for them to tackle, at least once.