It was morning at the Eleanor's mansion and all the employees were up and about with their activities. The newly employed handy man was just hanging by the window, fixing some of its rails, when he noticed Nora relaxing in her warm bath, backing her window.
The window blinds were up, and the handy man couldn't help but be drawn to Nora, despite how hideous she looked. He paused on his work and just hung by her bathroom window, looking at her with love eyes and admiration.
As he watched Nora closely, he caught a glimpse of her face peeling off like a mask. He became unsettled and tried so hard to ascertain what he was actually seeing.
“Why is her face coming off?” He muttered underneath his breath as his eyes shun.
Nora soon noticed that she was being watched and quickly called out to her mother, who was just a yell away.
“What is it Nora? Why did you yell out like that?” Eleanor, Nora's mother, queried.
“I don't know mom, but I saw a man watching me and I got scared”.
Eleanor looked around and found no one, especially because the handy man has swung over to another window. She quickly rolled down the window blinds and quarried Nora for leaving them up.
“You know the rules Nora, don't let me catch this blind up again.”
“Yes mom, I'm sorry.” Nora apologized as she got off the bathtub, dried herself and got dressed.
By noon, all the house workers were done with their activities and all gone, aside the handy man who was just keeping his tools.
Noon is usually when Nora gets to come out for some sunlight and fresh air, by that time of the day, the compound is empty, leaving just her and her mother.
As Nora walked around inhaling, exhaling and enjoying the melodious tunes from the birds chirping, she stumbled on the handy man and immediately turned to leave, but the handy man held her back.
“Hey common, I'm not a monster you should be frightened of, my name is Ralph”. The handy man introduced himself as he held on to Nora's tender and moist palms.
“I'm sorry, but my mother forbids me to be seen by anyone, I have to go now” Nora pleaded, while wiggling her hand from Ralph's grip, but he held on tight.
“Why? Does she feel you'll embarrass her because of how you look?” Ralph questioned, with a fixated look at Nora's eyeballs.
“No, you will not understand, I'm sorry, but I need to leave” Nora forcefully snatched her hands off his grip as she ran off.
The next day, Nora seem to be having a little soft spot for Ralph. She couldn't get him off her mind.
What she found most intriguing was how close Ralph was willing to get with her despite her unappealing look. She really looked forward to seeing him again, as that is the first time a man has ever admired her.
That was the first time anyone has ever gotten so close to her, and she knew she had to be careful, else she risks offending her mother.
Nora took her bath and waited patiently for noon, hoping she'll have the opportunity of bumping into Ralph again.
Ralph on his end, was done with his work earlier than usual and positioned himself in a strategic place where no one would see him. But at the same time, he could also see Nora when she walk pass.
He was patient enough, and he soon heard Nora humming, his heart leapt with Joy as he jumped out from his hide-out.
Nora upon seeing him, couldn't contain her excitement, but they weren't lucky as Eleanor soon appeared.
Her face was heavy, and her eyes were blood shot, her forehead head were lined with veins as she yelled out Nora's name, stressing the vein lines on her neck.
Nora knew she was done for and immediately turned to her mother with her usual apology when she wronged her.
Eleanor was not having any of Nora's sorry, she dragged her to their mansion after warning the handy man to keep off and stay away from her premises as his services were no longer needed.
Ralph was heartbroken, especially knowing that he cannot see Nora again.
Not willing to let go just like that, he devised a mean. Ralph acted like he was leaving, but he's a sneaky man as he quickly located a hideout and waited there until night fall.
By night fall, Ralph snuck up to Nora's window and started stoning at it with tiny stones to catch Nora's attention. Nora soon came to the window and she jumped with excitement upon seeing Ralph.
Ralph however, was perplexed because instead of the hideous looking granny he has come to know as Nora, he saw a beautiful young girl. Immediately, it made sense to him why he had noticed her face peeling off when he first saw her.
Nora opened her window, and Ralph quickly got in.
“I never thought I would see you again,” Nora said in excitement as she grabbed Ralph in a tight embrace.
“I couldn't just leave you Nora, so I waited behind.” Ralph continued, while freeing himself from Nora's embrace and stirring deep into her eyes, holding her chin up.... "but I don't understand what's going on, you look different Nora.”
Taking a deep breath and exhaling calmly, Nora started narrating her story…. “Yeah, I am different because this is the real me. My mother makes me put on this hideous disguise just so I wouldn't attract any suitor and be married before her, but you saw behind that and even came back for me”....
“Because I love you and you don't deserve this. Ralph cuts in.
He continued stretching forth his hands, "run away with me.” Ralph eyes glittered from the reflection of light in Nora's room, he had so much hope that Nora would come with him, but it was soon to be dashed.
“I am sorry Ralph, but I can't leave my mother. She has sacrificed so much to give me the good life. She lost her youth working so hard to acquire this life of luxury for us.”
Nora swallowed some saliva as she continued again, “I can't betray her love now, I am sorry.”
Ralph was heartbroken, he spoke in anger raising his voice, “this doesn't make sense Nora, this woman doesn't care about you. The way she treats you, that's not love.”
“My mother loves me, and you are in no position to debate that, please leave my room right now, I don't want to ever see you again.” Nora fired back.
“We'll see how much your mother loves you.” Ralph said to Nora in down spirit as he climbed out the window.
The following day, Nora had woken up quite late for breakfast as she had cried all through the night over her unfortunate situation.
She freshened up, got into her costume and joined her mother for breakfast. She wasn't prepared for what is to follow. Her heart skipped upon seeing Ralph having dinner with her mother and being chatty with her.
"Ralph! What are you doing?" Nora yelled in a cracked and strained voice.
"Coming back to my senses and realising that Eleanor is way more beautiful and appealing than you."
Eleanor could not help but giggle mischievously upon Ralph's utterances.
"Mom! You can't possibly be involved with this man, knowing fully well he came for me first".
"Well you heard the man sweetheart, he is back to his senses" Eleanor responded as she took a sip from her favourite red wine.
Nora was not having it as she sort to create a scene, but Eleanor wouldn't let her and she soon had Ralph bundle her to her room, locking her in.
By noon, both Ralph and Eleanor were having a good time relaxing at the courtyard when Ralph suggested a solution to Nora.
"I think Nora is going to be a problem to our union my love, why don't we get rid of her for good?" Ralph spoke as he massaged on Eleanor's feet gently.
"Hmmmm.... What do you have in mind?"
"Let us get a good surgeon to make her hideous look permanent and then place her in old people's home"
"Brilliant! I love it, it's a good plan. Contact the surgeon already and let's get on with it".
Having Eleanor's full support, Ralph made all the necessary arrangements.
It's been two days since Nora last left her room. She was restricted to her bed and her mother brings her food.
Hearing footsteps she thought were familiar, she had hoped it was Ralph coming to rescue her but she was disappointed when she saw a surgeon with his surgical equipment and an injection of which he injected her with making her to pass out.
By the next morning, Eleanor was super excited to be getting rid of her daughter as she felt she would live her youth again with Ralph.
But then, Eleanor soon realised things were not always as they seem, when Nora who was pretending to be unconscious in her wheel chair, stood up and removed her mask plus costume to reveal her young beautiful self.
Eleanor was in shock and stuttered, "Whhh....aat... iii..."
"Surprised? Don't be. You were so in lust that your daughter you claimed to sacrifice your life for meant nothing and the sacrifices meant nothing to you as well.
I saw how deeply Nora loved you, so I devised a plan to show her who you really are.
I had our conversation recorded and disguised as the surgeon. I gave Nora a placebo injection and she passed-out out of fear.
Upon regaining consciousness, I took off my mask and played the recorded discussion we had to get rid of her. It wasn't easy to convince her but she soon realised you were an obstacle and agreed to go through with the plan to get rid of you.
I have already informed the appropriate authorities and you will have enough time to reflect on your actions either in prison or in the asylum".
"Why you!!!" Eleanor yelled as she made an attempt to attack both Nora and Ralph but she meant a forceful resistance by the authorities who bundled her away in handcuffs