When his mask cracks Novels & Stories

“Rot under varnish.” They teased it up, and it came away in one satisfying unmasking—false strength yielded to true weakness that could actually be mended. That piece took their power cleanly, gratefully, like a hinge drinking oil. The rent drew itself together another inch. Then the third crossing arrived—the one the visions had not dared to name.

I knew. The crack between them had begun to widen. And all I needed to do was wait for the whole mask to shatter.

“There is more.” He closed his eyes for a moment like he was fighting himself. I watched the struggle in his face. I saw the way his chest rose and fell, slow and heavy, like something inside him was breaking open. When he opened his eyes, the mask he always wore was gone. Every wall he built for years had cracks running through it. “Ollie,” he said, voice low, “you are the one thing I am terrified to lose.” My breath caught. Heat spread through my chest, heavy and warm.

my voice cracked, and I hated myself for it. His gaze softened, but only for a heartbeat. Then he straightened, cold resolve slipping back over his face. “If you go to that room tonight, Ava,” he said firmly, “you’ll tell me why you disappeared, why you left me sick, and you’ll tell me why you hurt me so badly.”

--- In the bathroom, I turned on the faucet and let the water run until the mirror fogged. Then I leaned over the sink and stared at my reflection. Gold earrings. Red lipstick. Eyes hollow. Just like always. --- But tonight, the cracks were wider. The mask didn’t fit quite right. And for the first time, I didn’t want to wear it anymore. --- I pulled Lucas’s note from my purse. Stared at it for a long time. I didn’t deserve kindness. Didn’t deserve softness. Didn’t deserve peace. But still… I held it like a lifeline.

He sighed and brushed his hand in his hair the other hand resting in his pocket and he stopped smiling and said in a deep voice, “Seeing you now is risking my life, you know my first name and for the first time I am not afraid to take such a step.” He turned to me and this time he looked straight in my eyes and he continues, “I will try and come back here to see you. But if I can’t and you can recognize me without my mask when we meet once again, then I won’t hesitate to be yours forever. This I promise.”

he instructed, gesturing to the masks that were lying in front of us. "Dad, mine broke," I said, holding up the broken mask for him to see. "What the fuck did you do?" he asked, shaking his head in exasperation. But then, seeing the disappointment on my face, he softened. "Here, take mine," he said, handing me his mask. Gratefully, I took the mask from him and placed it over my face, feeling a sense of excitement building inside me as the lights in the room began to dim. Suddenly, a voice came over the speakers from the front of the room, and I felt a thrill of anticipation run through me.

The fake smile felt like a mask that might crack at any moment. * * *

I threw my shoulders back and walked past them, acting like my heartbeat wasn’t hammering like mad. Because I had seen the ugly truth showing through the cracks and weaknesses Mira prayed we’d ignore. And once you spot the cracks? Well, it’s just a countdown until the whole mask shatters.