Behind the Bronze Mask - Epilogue

That day finally came. Both excited and nervous, he went back to the hospital. Not alone this time.

He was nervous and worried at the same time. Would I look the same? What if my face was equally deformed? What if the wounds didn’t heal properly? What if she couldn’t accept me again?

There were a few doctors in the room. As he was the first and only patient in the country to be tested with the bronze mask, a panel of top specialist was formed to monitor his progress with the mask. They were very assuring and encouraging, but it still didn’t do much to help him.

Inside him was a great struggle to maintain his composure. He thought he was experiencing a nervous break down. He didn’t know what to expect from the meeting with those doctors. What if something went terribly wrong with the mask?

And he prepared himself for the worst.

“Colonel,” a representative cleared his throat. “We have discussed and debated for a while on who should have the honour of removing that mask for you.”

The rep paused for a while. He stole a glance at Sergeant who was also part of the panel. “And we have all agreed,” He said calmly, “that the only person who deserves to take that mask off your face is your lady.”

Nire was stunned for a moment before her trademark smile was carved over her face. She didn’t even give him time to react. Before he even knew what was happening, she was already behind him.

Slowly removing the screws, his heart was racing. Palpitating and perspiring hands, he feared the worst. She was done with the screws, and then she came back in front of him and gently took off the mask. A gush of fresh cool air caressed his face. It was such a relief to get the mask off his face. He was so grateful and wanted to thank all the doctors one by one, but he was stumped and rooted to his feet when he saw Nire.

She gasped. Nire’s expression was written all over her face. The smile before she removed his mask suddenly vanished and evaporated into thin air. She nearly dropped the mask that she was holding. Clearly she was shocked and dumbfounded by what she saw.

His heart sank. He knew what was happening. Something went terribly wrong, right?

He nearly broke into tears when a nurse handed a mirror to him. Initially he refused to even look into that mirror. He didn’t want to see the face that crushed her little heart. He didn’t want to look at himself. He pictured a hideous monster looking face. He imagined himself as a Dracula with half of his face rotting and chewed away and gone, probably revealing part of the skull.

He stole a glance into the mirror. Just a glance. And that glance turned into a stare. Then he grabbed the mirror from the nurse and brought it closer to his face.

He gasped. Now it was his turn to be stupefied.

No scars. No signs or indications of a wounded face. A totally new layer of skin. He touched the once-burnt part of his face. It was even new flesh.

He looked better than before. He looked greater than before going into military. That mask gave him a new face. And with that new face, it gave him a new life. More than just a new life, it was a new perspective and outlook of life.

Entering the car, Nire finally broke her silence. “There’s going to be a problem,” she mumbled.

“What’s the problem?” he pushed the keys into the keyhole and turned it clockwise.

“I’m gonna need to get used to waking up and staring into a handsome face now onwards.” Then she grinned cheekily as she pecked him on his new face. “But wash your face and your hair first thing when you get home. You seriously need a hair cut.”