LOVELY.

_{arm bends  &&  head leans into SOFT palm ‘fore a curious twinkle GLEAMS within half – lidded eyes.  perhaps they had PIQUED his interest.  “ you’re so young . . ”  words tumble from the bat in a whisper  ,  somewhere deep down he even felt a tad ENVIOUS.  although he wasn’t ancient per se  ,  a hundred was far better than FOUR hundred.  “ you look lovely for your age   –   is that a BETTER compliment ? ”  lips shiny with gloss then curl  ,  revealing but the FAINTEST of dimples within porcelain cheeks.}

           _{———❝ I’m only human – that means a lot to me. ❞
Unchanged and immortalized, the man felt his age with each passing day in ways apart from his body. He saw friends and acquaintances grow rich and old and dead, days spent categorizing the few he let close to him in his silent hubris. Rarely did he find himself in the company of mortals; it was more humane to live apart, than to live alone.}

❝ I find it kind of ironic how the pot calls the kettle black. ❞
Lovely was the word he used.

He’d hardly met a lovelier facade.