by Uriél Danā

 URIÉL DANĀ FINE ART › FICTION › FLASH FICTION

For sixty years Paolo had been a master of the female form. He had been stunned to see a living version of his sculpture move into the adjacent studio.

Later, when reshaping a marble nose, he noted his new neighbor had surgery on her nose too.

Walking past the sculptor’s open door, she felt drawn inside. As their eyes met, she awkwardly introduced herself. Sophia stuttered, “I’m a welder and recently started sculpting.”

Returning home, Sophie discovered her work in progress no longer pleased her. It reminded her of the contorted body of the old man next door. She destroyed it with her torch.

Paolo’s charred body was found the following morning.