Glasses

"Glasses" by Henry James is a short story published in 1896. A young orphan named Flora Saunt possesses extraordinary beauty—her sole asset in a world where she has little money or intellect. When she becomes engaged to a wealthy aristocrat, her future seems secure. But Flora harbors a dangerous secret: she is nearly blind and requires thick corrective glasses that destroy her famous looks. As her vision fails, she must navigate a society that values appearance above all, leading to unexpected consequences and revelations about love, vanity, and what truly matters when sight itself disappears.

Glasses, by Henry James. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #1195.