What would my perfect woman be like? It's the question I've been asking myself these past few years. Surely someone with character, who makes me laugh, who's beautiful not only on the outside but also on the inside. In any case, I'll probably never find her, at least not in this life.

I live quite isolated, in the north of England, on a small farm, surrounded only by the art I create with my hands: sculptures.

I used to sell my works, making quite a bit of money from them. I was doing well. But I had a breakup, a painful one. And we all know the things a broken heart can do if you give it the chance. I haven't heard from her since, and I don't want to. I live much better this way.

But if she wasn't the one, then who would be? We'd been together for several years, and people already thought we were getting married, and so did I. But she had other plans.

I then decided to begin one of my largest works. A life-size sculpture of a woman, but not just any woman, the perfect woman, or at least for me. I've been kneading the plaster with my hands, shaping and polishing the features down to the last detail for a whole year, and finally, here in front of me is my perfect person, my other half. But once, it's not real.

I throw the cloth on the table and let out a long sigh. I lift my hand to caress one of her cheeks. The plaster is cold. I run my thumb over her full lips. I run my hand down her neck, her breasts, her abdomen, her waist... deep inside, I wish it were real.

I leave the studio and go to the kitchen. I wash my hands in the sink and pour water into a glass. I gulp it down and leave it on the table. I go to open the fridge when a loud bang comes from the studio. The rats must have gotten back in and knocked over the tools. I retrace my steps and stop dead in my tracks in the doorway.

There's a woman in the studio, naked, her hair cascading down her back. She turns her head to look at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. She's beautiful, and she's... I move my gaze to where I'd left the sculpture. There was nothing. I look back at the girl, and my mind clicks. She's real.

She takes a few steps back, scared, and that's when I react.

"No, no... don't be afraid," I raise my hands in a sign of peace. "I created you..."