I Welcome My Other

staring into my reflection I see blemishes Anxiety, stress, ugliness others might miss I tear myself apart in big gulps and sighs Seeing the truth below my devil mask. There is sorrow for a second But I swish that away; not wanting to feel a bit sorry for myself Wanting to hold myself accountable A slap to the back of the head means my other is here now My other is harder on me yet. I welcome her presence. She will point out other errors. Mistakes I might have forgotten about Or worse buried. Together we are a mighty force Alcohol and I; she brings me to my knees Revealing truth in bare, terrifyingly honest ways. Hello, I say, welcoming her defiance and her wrath.