Now, to be frank, this little story reflects my personal preference, too… but I can’t imagine anyone’s shocked beyond recovery at that revelation. After all, you don’t pick someone you believe is a hag to portray a beautiful woman.

“Eye of the Beholder”

By Joseph Manno

For weeks, both Matsuoka and Hatshepsut had dreaded this moment, but could no longer deny the time had come.

He passed his pillow-propped, bed-ridden patient a mirror, and she held it before her face.

Parihn scrutinized each nuance of angle and contour. Her eyes narrowed.

Matsuoka prepared to explain he could restore her appearance to its pre-accident state—that the person looking back at her need not be the one with which she must live.

Then, the young Orion did the last thing either doctor or counselor would have predicted.

She smiled.

“I haven’t seen you in a long time.”