Makeup Artist

Today’s post is based on a writing prompt I shared in a previous Daily Drafts & Dialogues post. Keep reading to see what I wrote, and to access more writing prompts.

What I wrote below is based on the following writing prompt: Write a scene in which a makeup artist is doing another person's makeup. Be sure to add detailed descriptions as well as drama to the scene. 

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As I blended the foundation over her left cheekbone to cover the bruise, she winced, then smiled politely when I apologized, before telling me that it was okay and that it wasn't as bad as it looked. But it looked worse than any bruise I had ever seen before. And I have seen quite a few in my line of work. 

My job consists of covering bruises and scrapes, all sizes and shapes, to enhance beauty, her beauty. But this time, I didn't want to cover anything up for her, or on her. Maybe it's because of who she was in front of the camera, always strong and inspiring, a hero. Someone who would fight, and win.

I covered the injuries on her skin, her injustices and wounds, so others wouldn't have to cover theirs when they saw who she was, made up, on screen. The dramatic irony of it all was almost too much to bear.

I already knew her bruise would take a couple days to fade to a yellow-green, and then it would be nearly impossible to keep covered. Just like the temperature of her relationship with him, and his volatility. Just like her waning confidence and effervescence and resilience. Just like my growing concern for her safety and need to protect her light.

When she told me she had fallen down the stairs, I knew it was a lie because I had seen the ranting texts the day before as I applied her mascara and contours, and how he had shown up to set with lunch for her with a clenched jaw and fists and a compressed and charged disposition like he was a champagne bottle ready to pop its top off at any second. Yet never in celebration or with jubilation. I also knew for a fact that they didn’t have stairs in their house. 

Always, this was the worst part of my job. The part where I had to stay invisible. Because it meant that she would have to stay invisible too, in plain sight with an audience, for an audience. For now, at least. Maybe I will say something, do something, tomorrow. When everything is wrapped. Then she wouldn't have to be with him all day instead, or ever go back. To him, with him, all alone. But what will I say or do? She already knows everything she needs to know, and what to do. Doesn't she? Won't she?

So, I continued to brush and paint her face, brightening her eyes and lips, the dark spots long gone. Because, as they say, lights camera action, the show must go on.

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Did you complete this prompt? If so, share what you came up with in a comment or chat thread below so that we can discuss it.

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© All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton and Creighton’s Compositions LLC. The above work is a piece of fiction. While, as in all fiction, the literary perceptions and insights are based on experience, all names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Today’s Writing Prompt