First published 2025
Mr. Distinctive possesses the kind of face that makes strangers smile when he walks down the street. His striking features once landed him a television commercial, where producers praised how well his appearance sold their product. He spends his days taking selfies and uploading countless photos of himself across the internet, basking in the attention and shares his images receive. Then one morning, Mr. Distinctive peers into his mirror and discovers something terrifying. His distinctive features have started to blur and fade away. Each new photograph he posts online seems to drain more of his uniqueness, leaving him increasingly ordinary. Desperate to reclaim the flawless beauty that brought him fame and adoration, he pursues an extreme remedy. But the price of restoring his exceptional appearance may cost him more than he ever imagined. This illustrated story explores what happens when our hunger for digital validation consumes the very thing that made us special.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, social-commentary
Kindle Edition · Seven Stories Press