THE PAINTED LADIES

They lived off lipstick and myth. And they outlasted everything

The years had passed it by.

But who would dare say such a thing to an ancient beauty?

The memories were stronger than the stone. The rot went unnoticed by tourists gasping in awe.

The structures giggled.

They weren’t fooled.

These were the Painted Ladies of the alleyways—too elegant to name their age. Too stubborn to disappear. They lived off myth and lipstick.

The visitors came to pay respects to a dying world.

The city was amused.

Let them believe in crumbling kingdoms. Let them worship her ruin.

She had outlasted worse than time.