I stare at her in the dirty mirror on the wall
She stares back at me, all the cracks showing
Unwilling to smile
Asking me questions with her eyes.
She looks tired
She feels exhausted
Her body is in pain
Her back hurts.
Her eyebrows are untamed
I should do something about that,
I think.
What about the hair, it’s so dry and unmanageable
We should cut it,
I say
“No” I hear a whisper
The breeze floats through the open window
Strands of hair dances as it does
The sun frames me with a golden light
Almost angelic if I didn’t know better
Mmm, that felt nice, we both think.
I’m not that pretty,
I sigh
A bit on the bland side
“You’re beautiful”
I look away from the mirror
And inhale.
She exhales
We’re staring at one another
Through purpled framed specs
“I’m tired” I think
“I know” she whispers back
I arch my back in cat-like stretch
Feeling the muscles in the lower back
Tensing as I do.
She inhales
I exhale
I lift a cup of tea to my lips
Not too sweet
A bit cold
I lick my lips to taste
“What are we going to do?”
I ask
“We carry on”
She replies
I move my hair from right to left
Feeling the texture
Dry, yes
But still beautiful.
A smile touches my lips
I look in the mirror hanging on the wall
“You’re strong”
She says
I hesitate
The eyes that stare back at me
Look hopeless
Deep set and underlined with shadows
As if years of sleep have been lost
And years of tears have been shed
“You’re strong”
She says again
“Say it”
I inhale
I exhale
I fix my hair
And straighten my clothes
“I am strong”
I whisper
“This body is merely a vessel
Your spirit is flourishing”
She becomes louder
I can feel her banging on the walls on the inside of my head
And my heart.
I inhale
I exhale
“For every one thing that I find is wrong with me
There are ten more things that are right with me.”
I hear myself say.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
I am strong.
I am beautiful.
I am capable.
I am
Her.