The Faceless Features of Familiarity

… a piece of flash fiction on identity, perspectives, and (what) lies beneath…

The alarm goes off, and it’s 7 a.m.

I reach for the phone, there’s a message from Dan.

HEY, BABE. JUST LANDED. PICK ME UP AT THE HOTEL? ; )

I smile instantly and bury my face in the sheets.

Today is the day I’m finally meeting Dan. In person.

I met Dan a few months ago on an online networking site for professionals. We hit it off instantly, so we eventually took things to a more personal level.

Dan is fun and witty, has a great sense of humor, and is one of the best conversationalists the world has ever seen.

I don’t think I’ve ever clicked with anyone like I’ve clicked with Dan. No wonder I’m so excited about meeting him in person.

I chuckle and rise from under the sheets while trying to reach for the phone.

I read the message again and smile.

HM. NOT SURE I SHOULD… ; )

I chuckle again and dive back under.

A myriad of thoughts race through my head, and I’m pretty certain each of them is a bad idea.

I’ve dreamed about meeting Dan so many times I can’t even count anymore.

But no matter how the story starts, it always ends the same.

Which is why I’m thinking, it’s better to meet Dan in public than in his hotel room.

The beep from the phone cuts off my thoughts, so I immediately fumble my way out.

OH, I’M SURE YOU’LL BE ABLE TO CONTROL YOURSELF.

OH HAHA.

I crack a loud laugh and roll my eyes. Like I could have issues with self-control.

I put the phone down and scurry to the bathroom.

Time for another long shower, I think to myself, though I’m pretty sure I have about two more hours before meeting Dan. Maybe less if I give in and pick him up at his hotel room.

Oh, who am I kidding… I let the hot water wash away the slumber from my face with the last remains of self-control.

One very long shower later and fully wrapped up in a soft towel, I head straight to where I left the phone, leaving wet traces behind.

YOU’RE NO FUN.

I raise my eyebrows and frown.

I’M NOT FUN. I’M SMART.

I reply, smirking at my own witty quip.

Dan’s response arrives before I put the phone down.

PRETTY PLEASE?

I sigh and type back.

FIIIIIINE.

My eyes land on the mirror, and I look away. I muster up my strength to look again.

What?!

I gaze at my own reflection in a futile attempt to force out some reasonable explanation for my shameless behavior.

Nothing.

Eventually, I give up and get dressed.

***

Half an hour later, I’m in a taxi reading Dan’s message and questioning my life choices.

“Going somewhere?”

The taxi driver politely asks while I respond to myself.

Yep, to hell.

“Just having lunch with a friend.”

Not sure what sounds more absurd, lunch or a friend, but I’m adamant to live up to my own lie.

Another half an hour later, the taxi leaves me in front of the hotel, and the driver wishes me a nice meal.

I smile and nod, and then enter the hotel veiled in shame like I’m the whore of Babylon.

Dan’s room is on the third floor, so I use the stairs, hoping my common sense will finally kick in, and I’ll make a run for it.

This, obviously, doesn’t happen, and I find myself staring at Dan’s door only a few seconds later.

I take a deep breath in and knock on the door.

Nothing.

I knock again. Still nothing.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

My playful voice is met with silence.

I frown and knock again, this time louder.

“Dan…?”

The stillness makes me restless, and I slowly push the door. It’s open.

“Dan?!”

Dan is standing next to the window, looking at the lively square below brimming with clamor.

“Are you ignoring me on purpose?!”

I scold him and head over. He’s wearing a jacket and jeans, and smells like white musk and dark sins. I feel the air conditioner pounding in rhythm with my expectant heart.

“Are you playing hard to get?”

I whisper softly and put my right hand on his left shoulder.

He slowly turns to face me, and I run out of breath.

“Dan?”

The room is half-lit, and I squint to see him better.

He is wearing a mask. One of those white, faceless masks you can buy in any store.

I laugh.

“Oh, so… masks off, huh?”

I giggle and think to myself, how convenient. Leave it to Dan to etch an indelible first impression.

I smile and take off the mask that’s resting on his face.

But as soon as I take it off, I realize there’s another one under it.

I put the first mask on the windowsill behind his back, and then reach for the other one.

“You really are playing hard to get!”

I conclude sheepishly while gently removing the second mask.

The mask easily leaves his face, revealing yet another one under it.

I frown.

I toss the mask on the bed and sigh deeply.

“Oh, haha.”

I strip off the next mask only to find out there’s another one.

I toss this one on the floor and tear off the one that’s staring at me.

But alas! The mask just unmasks another mask that hides his face away from me.

Somewhere between anxious and agitated, I keep throwing masks all over the room in fever until I become so tired I can’t hold my hands up in the air anymore.

I rest my weary hands on his shoulders and lean my forehead against his chest.

Endless moments fly by as I’m waiting for him to do something. Anything.

But nothing happens.

I raise my eyes, and my hands slowly travel from his shoulders to the blank mask shielding him away like a wall.

“Do you even have a face?”

An unexpected wave of primordial sadness overwhelms me as I stare at the abyss behind his hollow eyes when suddenly –

The alarm goes off, and it’s 7 a.m.

I reach for the phone, there’s a message from Dan.

HEY, BABE. JUST LANDED. PICK ME UP AT THE HOTEL? ; )