Bright Eyed Beauty

An Iron Age Media Prompt Submission

Maria silently screamed as the surgeon made his first cut. The anesthetics had only put her so far under. As he and the others continued to slice away, she forced herself to embrace the pain. This was what she wanted, after all. Why shouldn’t she get to enjoy it?

For so long, Maria watched her friends and colleagues go through the same procedures, always the center of attention when they returned. Everyone looked at them the way no one had ever looked at her. She had always lamented her plain, flawed looks. Every imperfection grew louder with each person's visit to the surgeons. Now, it was her turn.

When the drugs wore off, Maria looked up at the grinning circle of scrubs. They helped her to her feet and brought her to a mirror. Looking upon her new self now, she struggled to find her voice.

The eyes she looked through glowed in the darkness of the room, acting as lights that shimmered on the thick black oil pouring down her metal skull. In the back of her head, thin cables protruded where her hair had once been. Heavier cords connected to the side of her head and snaked their way to her neck. Her nose down to her chin were the only places where skin remained.

Touching a drip of oil that had made contact with the skin, she moved her cold hand down an icy, colorless cheek, resting the fingers on her blood-red lips.

For the first time in her life, Maria smiled.

“I’m beautiful.”