| The onion girl peeled herself slowly, exhibiting layer after layer in a fascinating strip-tease. The first layer was her mundane, worldly layer. It was thick and crusty in form. The next layer still heavy, but smoother, like melted chocolate layered on strawberries. It gave a sense of what was hidden without revealing details. Below that layer was something more delicate, iridescent with the sheen of oil on water or a soap bubble floating through the air. The luminosity of it retained a masking quality. The slowness of her peeling was excruciating, but terribly satisfying with the drop of each veil. |