When I saw the photo prompt © Liz Young for this week on Friday Fictioneers, it immediately brought to mind the story that was my first blog post back in December 2011. The original story was 150 words in length but I’ve pruned it down to 100 words without difficulty and with added punch.
As a footnote to original, I wrote the following…
Author’s note: In my experience the more fantastic the claims for a beauty product, the more expensive and full of dangerous chemicals it is. I believe in organic beauty products, used from head to foot, and a balanced diet of freshly prepared meals. Combine this with a positive attitude, creativity, and trying to see the funny side of things whenever possible. Who cares about a few laughter lines and characterful wrinkles? I don’t fancy looking like a faceless mannequin doll. Do you?
Genre: Science fiction horror
ASSAULT ON VANITY
Cries of terror rocked the city and catapulted Tania into wakefulness. She fought to focus on her clock, but to no avail. The digits blurred grey and her eyes had the deep ache of a hangover, but she’d not touched a drop of alcohol for days.
In the bathroom, she splashed water at her face but couldn’t feel it contact her skin. Then she looked in the mirror. Apart from her eyes and the skin covering their sockets, her face had metamorphosed into a featureless blank; the work of Dr Hamid’s new wonder cream that claimed to banish wrinkles overnight.
Sarah Potter Writes 