TITLE: THE CURSE OF THE VOLUPTUOUS SMILE

BY CHARLYNE YI 

“THE SAD PART IS THAT ANY TIME I AM REMOTELY HAPPY, I AM INSTANTLY PUNCHED IN MY FUCKING FACE WITH REALITY, PUNCHED WITH A STRANGER’S LIPS, WRESTLED BY SOME SLUG OF TONGUE TRYING TO DEVOUR MY LAST BREATH — AND REMINDED OF HOW I’VE BEEN CURSED.  

WHY DID THAT WRETCHED WITCH HAVE TO CURSE ME?  WILL I REALLY HAVE TO LIVE OF THE REST OF MY LIFE BEING IRRESISTIBLE?  AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COULD I FIND THAT OLD HAG WHO TOOK MY REAL SMILE BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE?

…THE SMILE THAT I COULD WEAR FOREVER ON MY FACE.  THE SMILE THAT I WASN’T ASHAMED OF… THE SMILE THAT WASN’T VOLUPTUOUS, BUT SIMPLE AND REAL… LIKE HUGO.  OH HOW I MISS HUGO…

I WILL HAVE MY VENGEANCE, I WILL FIND MY HUGO, AND I WILL GIVE THAT WITCH SOMETHING TO REALLY SMILE ABOUT: HER FUNERAL . !”