Painting is a blind man’s profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels…
— Pablo Picasso
The gift of beauty had always been a double-edged sword for Manon. It was not about natural attractiveness, the kind that people marveled at and admired. Of course, men liked beauties, which caused envy and jealousy among other ladies, but this didn’t always prevent attractive women from living happy lives. But for Manon, her beauty was a real disaster. Men didn’t just fall in love with her: they went mad, became delusional and delirious. After meeting her, they were unable to think of anyone else. They shouted near her house and broke windows and doors. They gave her no peace. They left their families, opened veins, shot, drowned, or hung themselves, or even threatened to kill her if she didn’t reciprocate their feelings. As for the women, they unanimously hated and despised Manon, calling her a witch, a marriage wrecker, an inveterate whore and a snake in the grass.
In reality, the so-called “inveterate whore” and “witch” was religious and virgin. She didn’t do anything to attract such attention. The crazy reactions of the surrounding men didn’t delight the girl at all, and because of the women who were ready to peck her, like a flock of embittered hens, she was even afraid to go to church. It didn’t help that the young priest himself had to fight with persistent thoughts and desires since the moment he met Manon.
In childhood, everyone considered her an adorable kid and saw little Manon as a small angel, but that little girl grew up. She became an unnatural attraction for her father and brothers, which caused her flight from home at an early age. Wandering like one leprous and cursed, she tried to hide her appearance and look as plain as possible. There was only one thing she couldn’t do — disfigure herself. For her, it would be a sin and a betrayal of beauty. At the same time, Manon didn’t understand what people saw in her and suspected it wasn’t just a matter of appearance. But sooner or later, the most sensible men began to go crazy over her and women fell into a rage, ready to tear her apart in a lynching without trial.
Living off of random part-time jobs, she couldn’t stay anywhere for long. If a girl with other principles were in her place, she could have manipulated people like puppets, squeezing all the juices to provide herself with comfort, wealth and fame. But she was herself and no one else.
Once, she arrived in the next town and managed to find a new job unexpectedly. We can’t say that she immediately liked the unusual proposal or decided to accept it instantly. On the contrary, she had her doubts and, frankly speaking, fears. But there were no other options. And besides, there were still no other volunteers, which increased her chances of being hired for service. It did, however, make her think twice whether she should do it at all.
