The Ugly Woman

The Ugly Woman(Joseph Logsdon) The Ugly Woman
By Joseph Logsdon
Debra Harrison was an ugly woman. Everyone, even the most tolerant people, refused to look at her. To many people, Debra Harrison was an abomination, a curse that could never be lifted. Debra cried every single night, not because of her ugliness, but because she loved a very handsome man. Johnathan Winter loved Debra, but as a friend, not a girlfriend. One dark night, Debra finally decided to tell Johnathan the truth.
Rain poured as she entered his modest apartment. At first, Johnathan refused to look at his ugly friend, but as time passed, he realized that he would have to acknowledge her. Debra wanted, more than anything else, to be loved by Johnathan Winter.
“Johnathan, I need to talk to you,” she requested.
“Hi, Debra, how are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m not doing very well,” she whimpered.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Well, you see, I have something to tell you,” she stated.
“What is it?”
“Please, don’t be angry,” she begged.
“Deb, whatever it is, you can tell me,” he assured.
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me, it’ll be fine,” he stated.
“I love you,” she revealed.
“Nice,” Johnathan laughed.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s interesting, that’s all,” he laughed.
“Why? Why is it interesting?”
“I don’t know, it just is,” he laughed.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“Look, it’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that I don’t feel that way about you. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
“Sure, I understand,” she cried.
“Come on, don’t be like that,” he begged.
“It’s not your fault,” she whimpered.
“What do you mean?”
“People have been laughing at me my entire life,” she stated.
“That’s not true.”
“I should’ve seen this coming. Let’s face it, if I were beautiful, you would’ve had sex with me years ago. You know, for many years, I honestly thought you loved me, I guess I was wrong. Who am I kidding, anyway? I’m not a woman, I’m just a wild, good for nothing animal!”
“You know that’s not true,” he stated.
“I hate you,” Debra cried as she left the apartment.
The following morning, Johnathan smiled as his girlfriend entered his apartment. Priscilla Lane was, as most of her friends would tell you, a very beautiful woman. Her eyes twinkled as she kissed her boyfriend.
“Good morning,” she stated.
“I thought you had to work today?”
“I’m taking the day off,” she replied.
“Why?”
“What is this, twenty questions?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be invasive,” he laughed.
“I just had a very tough night, that’s all.”
“Is there any particular reason?”
“Debra Harrison was your friend, wasn’t she?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Well, have you heard the news?”
“News? What news?”
“This will be difficult for you to hear,” she stated.
“Don’t worry, I can handle it,” he laughed.
“John, this isn’t funny,” she stated.
“I know, just tell me,” he requested.
“Last night, she killed herself.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Believe me, I wish this were a joke.”
“Wow, I actually feel guilty,” he sighed.
“Why should you feel responsible for her death?”
“Technically, I don’t, it’s just something I said to her last night,” he informed.
“What did you say?”
“You have to understand, I didn’t mean to hurt her. She came to me last night, lonely and depressed, so I tried to give her some advice.”
“What did you tell her?”
“We never made it that far. You see, the reason that she was so depressed, was because she had fallen in love with me. Now, as silly as that sounds, it’s true,” he stated.
“Actually, it’s not so silly,” she stated.
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“You were her only friend for many years, and because of that, it was only natural that she would fall in love with you. Hell, any woman, if they’re around you long enough, will fall in love with you.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“You’re a smart, charming man,” she complemented.
“What are you saying?”
“It’s sad, really,” she stated.
“What’s sad?”
“It’s sad, that all this time, I never realized how much I loved you, how much I need you,” she stated.
“I feel the same way about you,” he gleefully announced.
“John, I know it might be a little soon, but could we get married?”
“Nothing would make me happier,” he answered.
On their wedding night, Johnathan and Priscilla kissed as they entered the apartment.
“Hello, Mrs. Winter,” Johnathan laughed.
“I don’t think I’ve ever loved someone this much,” she stated.
“I feel the same way,” he replied.
“It’s too bad,” she stated.
“What do you mean?”
“About Debra,” she answered.
“Honey, do we have to talk about her?”
“She was your friend, after all.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to think about her tonight,” he huffed.
“Actually, I think this is the perfect time to think about her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tell me, do you think, if you hadn’t rejected her, she would still be alive?”
“I guess,” he answered.
“You seem nervous,” she stated.
“Can we stop talking about this?”
“I wish we could,” Priscilla stated as she closed the door.
“Why are you going on with this?”
“Because, Johnny, we have some unfinished business,” she laughed.
“Okay, you’re kind of creeping me out,” he stated.
“Don’t be afraid, it’s only me.”
Without further hesitation, Priscilla removed the artificial skin from her face. Her wig, blonde and artificial, was removed. Johnathan, shocked and confused, stood in horror as Debra kissed his pale lips.
“How is this possible?”
“Don’t you recognize me?”
“You’re supposed to be dead!”
“I was here all the time, you just couldn’t see it,” she laughed.
“Why? How?”
“You see, Johnny, I knew you wouldn’t accept my current appearance, so I decided to change it. I knew that, once you saw my new look, I would have no trouble seducing you. As for Debra, well, I had to get rid of her somehow,” she laughed.
“So, let me guess, you faked your own death, didn’t you?”
“Once Debra was gone, Priscilla could finally be the dominant identity in my life.”
“But, if Priscilla really is the new you, why did you remove your disguise?”
“Because, I want you to know that you’re married to me. Priscilla, though helpful, was only meant to get you into the marriage bed. Now that you’re here, she is no longer needed,” Debra laughed.
“You can’t do this!”
“Oh, I can, and I did,” she laughed.