First published 2016
Aylmer, a brilliant scientist, cannot stop staring at the small birthmark on his beautiful wife Georgiana's cheek. What others see as charming, he views as nature's single flaw in an otherwise perfect creation. His fixation grows until he can think of nothing else. Georgiana notices his revulsion and begins to hate the mark herself. She begs Aylmer to use his scientific knowledge to remove it, despite the danger. Aylmer retreats to his laboratory with Georgiana, determined to erase what he sees as imperfection. His assistant Aminadab warns against the experiment, but Aylmer proceeds anyway. As he works to eliminate the birthmark, Georgiana must decide how far she will go to satisfy her husband's impossible standards. The story reveals the destructive power of pursuing flawless beauty.
Genres: fiction, horror, 19th-century
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: destructive-pursuit-of-perfection, flawed-protagonist, hubris
Period: 19th Century
24 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Content warnings: body-horror