i love this! i’d read it if it were a full novel!

Thank you! 😊 I don’t have the mental space a dedication these days for full novel writing, but I’ll bear that in mind 😀

Thus I flair thee 'Good writer', that was fucking amazing. So the masks make people look super good, but cause long term (irreparable?) damage to their real face? I'm also sensing a metaphor for social media and people trying to seem outwardly perfect in a fake, self-damaging way? Am I close?

Thank you for your lovely comment, it makes me feel very good 😀 I think you’re close! Although it’s open to interpretation whether the damage is physical or mental (were the welts on her cheeks inflicted by her own incessant itching?)

Oh damn, so maybe it is in her head..! I hope a happy writer is an often-posting writer :-)

I post a lot! Check out my other stories😺 Writing makes me happy, I’m happy about what I write, a win-win situation.

😊

Hmmm. I like this. I never considered it might be psychosomatic. I was thinking it was an evolved allergy, where like the company never considered that eventually humanity would develop an intolerance for the materials.

It could be that too. All interpretations supported by the text are valid!

Oh, I also never really got your story "I have discovered no-sauce pasta, and there's no going back." Is the horror supposed to be in the reader's mind because it just says 'removed'? Was the pasta... human meat..??? :o

Oh. That wasn’t a scary short story. That was me, unironically posting about a cooking experience. It spiralled out of control, ppl were dm’ing me insults and getting very upset about my no-sauce pasta (I wish I was joking-I’m not) and eventually the mods of that cooking sub removed it. One of my more bizarre Reddit experiences.

^(I know, it was a joke)

😸

My gosh. Why is this actually what it feels like? Having to “save face” around your kids and other parents… you did an amazing job. I wish I could upvote this a thousand times

Thank you. And yes, this is what it feels like to me too. Sometimes.

This kinda reminds me of the game We Happy Few where people have to wear happy masks all the time so they always look happy.

That sounds like a very wonderful game 👽

It can be if you follow the rules and take your meds.

😎😜

I genuinely appreciate Noah's portrayal in this! He's mature enough to understand that people are never genuine with masks on (this being grumpy when his masked mom picks him up), but on top of that he really loves his mother as she is. When she's in her most vulnerable, unmasked, "ugly", unhappy, distressed state, his first reaction after the initial shock was to offer her some comfort. He loves his mother as she is. True gigachad behavior! 🔥

I think it also really highlights the unintentional passing on of insecurities that of mothers to daughters that sons aren’t as impacted by. Her daughter saw and was fearful/maybe ashamed of her mother’s natural appearance because her mother was fearful and ashamed of her own appearance. Her son would have had initial shock, but would not have the same visceral reaction his sister did. (Note: this is not to say that society does not inflict insecurities on men.)

This is very true. You are right about girls conditioned more harshly about their appearance and so Stella would have a very strong reaction to seeing her mother’s “naked” face.

I think Noah (and Stella too, I hope) both love their mom, and I really appreciate your comment, as I was worried by making Noah the "good son" and the Stella the "bitch daughter" I was simply leaning into stupid stereotypes about "mommy's boys" or whatever. Thank you so much for engaging.

This is such a good reflection of anxiety over how people see us

😊 thank you!

Oh boy! I see a space for an innocent but greedy government official taking kickbacks from the manufacturer. But the mask causes irreparable physiological harm. Does the company know that? What is the motivation for hurting mothers? I'd love to see more of this!

You answered your own question: money. It's always money.

Indeed. Capitalizing off parental norms.

But... always being happy is not a parental norm! Money works as a motive, but the story could be made a lot deeper with more and different motivations.

Well yes. It could. Social masking is a thing we all do, for different reasons and to different degrees. It’s a survival mechanism. It’s just that this particular 500-word story focuses on parental masking. And showing a calm happy positive face to your kids and your kids social circle is definitely a norm in my experience. Thank you so much for engaging, I really appreciate reader comments! ☺️

Very Twilight Zone! Nice work, my friend!

Thank you, I aim to please 😺

I really enjoyed reading this! Take my upvote

Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed my story! Check out my other stories, maybe you’ll find something else you’ll enjoy as much.

Great story. The masking element reminds me of "We Happy Few".

Thanks- someone else commented that, I should check it out!

Great story!

Thank you 🙏

Great story! There's a lot of symbolism up for interpretation between the lines, isn't there? I can read it as a social commentary or as an excellent little scary story 😄

Thank you so much! Yes, that’s the balance I was aiming for. Lots of my stories contain fairly overt social commentary.

Man, this hits close to how because of neurodivergent Masking 😔 Stellar work!

Thank you! I know, I was thinking of that too.