Thousands of masks surrounded the bench. Some were fabric, others leather, still others plaster or even glass. They ranged from the truly elaborate to the most simplistic. The sole occupant of the room could not tell how they were mounted to the wall; for all he could see, it might well have been magic.
There was a break in the masks only for the door that would take him out of the room. He thought to try it, but something pulled him away from the door. It drew him to the opposite side of the room. Curious, he inspected the masks along the curve, wondering which one was calling to him.
He brushed his fingers along the rough cheek of a blue mask, the face fierce, scowling at him with gleaming red eyes. Feeling nothing, he moved on. A stone mask, expressionless and cold; a lace mask that made him think of butterflies; a leather mask that made him think of a weathered old man. None of these called to him.
He looked higher up on the wall, and felt his heart pounding in his chest when he spotted it. That was the one, but he couldn't reach it. He searched the room, seeing no ladder, no means of climbing to reach what he was after.
Even from where he stood, far below the mask, he could see how delicate it was. Fragile glass, flecked with silver, the simple details marked in bold black and red lines. The mask looked sad and lonely.
Frustrated, he clawed at the wall, scrabbling for purchase. He was surprised when he connected with a mask and, instead of coming away, it held strong. With renewed purpose, he began to climb, using the masks around him as hand- and foot-holds.
The mask he sought was further up than he'd first thought; the room swayed around him when he glanced down at the floor, now far beneath him. The stone bench was shrinking speck in his vision.
Still he climbed, until, at last, he was face to face with the mask. Up close, he could see tiny lines, like cracks, that trailed from the mask's eyes, as if it were crying. "Don't worry," he whispered. "I'm here." On impulse, he kissed its glass cheek.
In his head, he could hear a faint, but happy, voice.
I know.
Around him, all the other masks vanished, and the room faded away.
