I stare into the mirror. I don’t recognize the woman looking back at me. Her hair is artfully curled and sections are pinned back to showcase the contoured cheekbones, the pale skin no amount of foundation can cover, and the rose pink lipstick that highlights her plump lips. All together, it only emphasizes the emptiness in her eyes. There’s a gasp behind me. I turn and lose sight of the stranger. “You look so beautiful.” My mother’s fingers cover her mouth and tears well in her eyes. I envy her ability to cry. I seem to have lost mine. Emotions have disappeared to be replaced with numbness.
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