The Words of Others

From the mirror to the picture and back to the mirror Eyes fixated on the girl she has become Her mind floats, trying to find something to love, to appreciate But the flaws illuminated by the words of those around her stare back at her blankly, unphased by affirmations She glances back at the picture The girl who was taken stares back Begging to be returned, for she was stolen Not by kidnappers But by time, By losing hope, By losing love, By losing her smile, Her once blinding smile now hides behind tight lips, trapping in the words of others The girl who was taken stares back Begging to be returned, but she was stolen.