​Recently I picked up a story I planned on writing a year ago however unfortunately I got derailed, I haven’ added much but any and all feedback is highly appreciated!

I have fallen in love! The woman in question is a true marvel to look upon. Her porcelain complexion is a sight to behold, and her alabaster skin is so smooth and flawless that it almost seems to glow in the moonlight.

There was something ethereal about her eyes, they lay still like the surface of a lake on a windless night, reflecting the world around them in perfect clarity but devoid of anything truly their own.

Her hair was wild and untamed, cascading down her in a riot of curls and waves. I can only imagine how beautiful her raven hair would be, were she still able to properly take care of it.

I found her stillness enchanting, she was a doll, with perfect features and a beauty that was almost unreal. There was a sense of calm and tranquility that radiated from her, like she was at peace with herself and the world around her despite what had become of her.

Despite her injuries, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked so vulnerable and fragile, like a bird with a broken wing.

I couldn’t help but think “how could a corpse be so beautiful?”

It seems she washed up ashore near Lytham. If it weren’t for the gaping wounds, it would be simple to dismiss this as a bizarre incident. However, there was an unsettling aura surrounding her. Upon closer inspection her countenance bore an almost ichthyic resemblance.

In my role as an assistant coroner, I frequently come across peculiar cases, but none have intrigued me as much as this one. I weren’t so enamoured with her, I might not have invested so much effort in unraveling the enigma of what transpired here.

“Franklin? Are you still here?” Shouted Kingsley, the cantankerous old coot whose presence had rendered the past five years of my employment here akin to torment. To me, he was like a pack of elegantly packaged cigarettes, initially captivating with the allure of delight, but as each one was lit, the smoke unveiled a noxious odor, saturating the surroundings with an enduring unease, the once alluring sweetness now acrid, leaving behind a persistent trail of displeasure. At first, he exuded amicability before ensnaring me into an indebted state, extending beyond the confines of work where I found myself essentially enslaved to his will. I would have been a successful lawyer had I not been forced into servitude to that noisome wrench.

“Yes, regrettably, I have yet to conclude my writing-” predictably Kingsley displayed his usual eagerness to interject, almost as though he harbored the belief that my completion of a thought would prove fatal to him.

“Well don’t bother leaving till it’s done, you indolent, worthless whelp” shrieked Kingsley. I could just picture his rugose face lighting up as he managed to exert some minuscule amount of authority.

Oh, how I ached for the day his breath ceased, when the oppressive shadow he casted finally dissipated, and I could good finally big farewell to this foetid place.

I gazed upon her once more, struck by the stark disparity between her radiance and the macabre setting that surrounded us. It was as though her beauty cast a spell, drawing me closer with an irresistible yet unsettling charm, like a moth irresistibly drawn to a flickering flame in the darkness.

I was compelled beyond reason, urging me to breach the forbidden and caress her visage. I had to hold her.