Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #384
Behind the Mask
They had travelled thousands of miles to see one of the world’s greatest wonders.
The Grand Canyon stretched endlessly before them—layer upon layer of ancient rock, carved by time, painted by sunrise and storm.
Yet none of them could truly see it.
Each wore a paper bag over their head.
Some had written names on the bags.
Some had decorated them.
Some pretended they were comfortable.
“It isn’t so bad,” one said.
“I’ve worn mine for years,” another replied.
They compared brands, colours, and creases, never once questioning why they wore them in the first place.
Then a small gust of wind caught the corner of one bag.
It lifted for just a heartbeat.
Long enough for its owner to glimpse the canyon.
Long enough to see colours they had forgotten existed.
Long enough to realise what they had been missing.
Slowly, trembling, they removed the bag.
The others gasped.
“Don’t do that!”
“What if someone sees the real you?”
“What if you’re different?”
But the person only smiled.
The canyon hadn’t changed.
Only their view of it had.
One by one, more bags slipped away.
Not everyone was ready.
Some clung tightly to the paper that had hidden them for so long.
Others let the wind carry it into the vast open sky.
Because sometimes the greatest journey isn’t to a famous destination.
Sometimes…
it’s finding the courage to remove the mask you’ve been wearing and finally see the world—and yourself—as you truly are.
#FFFC
With love, coffee, poetry, and stardust,
— Maggie The Afterlove Voice 💫
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