Behind A Mask

Short Story

This is my first time writing, so don't mind me of it sounds stupid. Give me a few years to improve, but for the mean time ... I hope you like it. *they don't have POVs*

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl in California named Taylor. People envied her, but they still love her. She has the beauty, the brains, and the money. She befriends everybody, and she's the child ever parent wants. They all thought she was perfect, living that perfect life. But that's the problem. They thought she was perfect. They didn't know that Ms.Perfection was broken and imperfect. She bottled up all her emotions. She puts a fake smile and a mask on. Why? Because the one thing that she loved most is broken, family. Her father left them, her mother died from cancer, her older brother, James, got framed and thrown into jail for possession of drugs, her step father Evan, is barely home, and the only family she has left is her baby sister, Kate, and her twin brother, Tyler.

Nobody noticed her mask until ...

Reece was a hot guy full of mystery and secrets. He's got a dark past, that's why he moved to California. He's a very observant person. And then he saw Taylor. There was something about her that made him curious. She fascinated him. He observed Taylor for days. Then that's when he noticed her mask. How? He had a mask of he's own. He know how it feels. He knows what the mask looks like. But there's only so much, he could hold in. He wanted to know how she did it. How she hides her problems so professionally, like she's been doing this for a long time.

So, he grew some balls and went talked to her. Surprisingly, they skipped the rest of school and talked for four hours. Their conversation was all smiles until Reece asked the question that's been eating him inside. "How do you do it? How do you keep that mask on if it's suffocating you? When you know everything is not right?" Just like that, Taylor's smile was gone. Reece could see the real Taylor, as if she took of she took it off. She looks so vulnerable, so broken. Because she instantly trusted him, she told him everything. "I put on this fake smile, this mask, this whole facade to strengthen Kate and Tyler. To show them that it's okay, and everything is going to be fine. I always tell myself that I have to be strong, for them, for mom." When she finished her story, Reece wiped her fallen tears, that she didn't realize had spilled. They were quiet for a while, but Reece broke it. "My sorry excuse of a father killed my brothers, my mom, and my baby sister before he killed himself. He said he wanted me to suffer, to know how it feel to be alone." Taylor and Reece just stared into each other's eyes. That was until Reece did the unexpected and kissed Taylor. Right there and then, their masks broke. They broke each other's masks. They filled each other. And they had each other's back.

From that day forward they were together. They remained strong together for 13 years. After, they got married, and had a son, Rector. When they got to their own home, Reece and Taylor made a promise to Rector. "We promise you get the happiness you deserve.  You would never have to touch, put up, or wear a mask." When Taylor was tired, Reece told her to go rest and that he'll put Rector to sleep. She happily obliged. When it was quiet, he hummed a lullaby for Rector. Reece just stared at him while humming. "I promise you I would be a better father. I promise to be your best friend. I would never hurt nor leave you. You won't have to fear me like my father did with me. You won't have to wait at home for me, because I'll always be here for you. You won't have to worry about anything because I'm here. And I don't plan on going anywhere else. This I promise you."
After he said this, he kissed Rector's little nose and continued humming his lullaby.

The End