In the debris of a broken city, what retains its gleam when memories become the only polished fragments?
Fifteen-year-old Lily aspires to attain a higher status in a society dictated by the smudged patterns of "Wogy-Wdy's" beauty products. The promi...
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The peeled ceiling's shapes remained oblivious to the fact that one morning they would not transform into a masterpiece in Lily's daily fantasy.
As she awoke, her gaze fell upon the lipstick standing tall before her, the monarch of her new fantasy embodying into reality.
Even as she rose and splashed water on her face, her mind was attached to it, questions lingering from the previous night in bed: What would the color appear like in daylight? How would she look after applying it? How differently will she be treated today?
Returning to the edge of her bed, she gazed once more at the promising tiny tube, its hue now exposed to the natural light - beet red.
Determined to fit into a society that still clung to notions of surface-level norms, she applied the lipstick with the cracked reflection of a handheld mirror she had taken from the drawer of her bedside table. A small dab of it on her lower lip, though its pigmentation and smoothness had faded with age, popped up against her delicate, pale skin. She traced lines across her face, using her finger to spread the color over her few freckles. It was a product designed to create patterned blemishes with a smudge effect.
As she glanced away, everything around her seemed subtly altered. Every surface caught a golden undertone and gave warmth to her room that had never been so radiant.
After getting dressed, she grabbed a quick bite of breakfast-a small piece of toast-before picking up her video camera. She took one last look at her face in the mirror, then headed for the front door. One hand on the handle, the other pressed against her chest, she had never felt more ready to go out.
***
The city of ruins still clung to a sense of calm before the swirling debris and cacophony of noise would soon spread over its streets. With her chin held high, she blended with the colorful crowd, armed with her outward appearance that mirrored her inward resolve.
The group of girls she had spotted the previous day now came into view in the distance, sitting together on a crumbling wall near a cleared lot. They leaned in close, sharing quiet laughter as they passed around small treats-a mix of snacks they'd pooled together, from pieces of chocolate to dried fruits, and even a handful of nuts one girl held protectively in her palm.
It was her chance to muster the courage to approach them. As she got closer, her nerves fluttered like trapped butterflies in her stomach. She glanced at the group, feeling a wave of hesitation wash over her, unsure of her next move. Just as she debated whether to retreat or press forward, one of the girls, mid-bite, looked up and locked eyes with her. Another girl followed her gaze, and soon the entire group turned to notice Lily's approach.
Their chatter quieted, replaced by curious glances and half-smiles, and Lily could feel her cheeks warm.
"Hi, can I join you?" she greeted, a hopeful smile on her face.
