They Only Saw Her Smile

What a beautiful person she is— her hair soft, a slight smile resting on her face. But can they see the shadows that haunt her? Can they see the darkness hidden behind her eyes? She is stunning— bold, and utterly unique. Yet here she lies, unwillingly waiting for the moment when everything can no longer be denied. She longs to fight— to scream with her own voice, to finally stand for herself. But when she looks in the mirror, all she sees is hopelessness and unfulfilled dreams. Thoughts flood her mind, drifting from what once was to the quiet terror of a single question: How can she not know the person staring back at her? No one asked about the curve of her smile, or the fall of her hair. The first question should have always been— What beauty built her? What fire made her who she is?