“It can be anything you wish,” said the shopkeeper. “Love, lust, never ending happiness…” she smiled wistfully.
The eyes of women browsing sparkled with bated anticipation.
The shop keeper, resting her aged, withered, and overly adorned hands upon the glass case, darkened suddenly. Her voice continued in a stern whisper. “But be warned, for if you choose the wrong one it can seal your fate forever. It can cause heart break, crushing loss, or even become the noose around your neck.”
The women surrounding the case gaped at her all taken aback.
One brave woman cleared her throat and in a matter-of-fact tone stated “how is that even possible? I’ve never heard of such a thing nor will I believe you. I-“ The woman tried to continue but was cut off.
“I see your point madam. But let me ask, have you never heard of a woman being abused to death by her own husband? Have you not heard his testimony in court saying he loved her so much but was afraid she would leave him? So out of so called love this man strangled her after looking too long at the mail man as he handed her the days deliveries?”
The shopkeeper eyed the woman who could only stutter a few incoherent excuses.
“Ladies, I don’t mean to frighten you away from the prospects of marital bliss. I merely wish to enlighten you to think clearly about your choice.” She said solemnly. “Now, unless one of you has a bo or a soul mate that has proposed to you in the last 10 minutes, I suggest you all go about your shopping and return home before dark. There have been rumors of Jack the Ripper being in the area and targeting lovely ladies like yourselves.” She warned as she moved slowly around the counter and began shooing them towards the door.
The last woman about to cross the threshold stopped just short and turned to the shopkeeper. “Madam, how is it you know so much about the potential cruelties of marriage?”
A sad smile crossed her face “I know because my own love tried to kill me once.”
The woman gasped “oh my! How terrible. What happened? Was he arrested? Hanged?”
“Heavens no. I love him after all.” She turned to look at a grandfather clock that stood nearby as it began to chime six o’clock. “Oh dear. You’ll never finish your day’s shopping if you don’t hurry.” And she gently pushed the woman out the door silencing her objection by pressing a finger to her lips. “A story for another day dear.” She said as she closed the door in the woman’s face.
The woman continued gaping worriedly at the shop keeper for another moment before moving on her way.
The shopkeeper watched the woman until she disappeared at the end of the short cobbled road. Then she locked the door, turned the old hand-painted sign to say “closed,” and made her way to the heavy curtain hanging behind the glass counter. As she passed into the darkness beyond she picked up a match and with a practiced swish lit a nearby candle. The dim light illuminated a series of different faces lining the walls, all female and all now deceased. The woman continued into the dark room the shadows growing around her as she neared the back of the room where a glass case stood tall. She placed her hand upon the case and whispered in a gravely voice.
“Darling. It’s time to wake, I’ve found you a new face for you to caress.” The room remained still and quiet but the temperature noticeably dropped. The woman’s breath now glowed in the candle light when she spoke again. “This face is fair and beautiful. Tis quite the sight to behold my darling. You should have heard her voice lilting through the shop as she spoke, like music to the ear. She seeks love to fill her bosom and passion to make her blood rush. Perhaps you might fancy a meeting with her to satisfy her desires too?”
To be continued….