Perfect Girl

I glance in the mirror

before I head out to school.

My skirt is sharply pleated

and my shirt neatly presses.

A black sweater with my school logo

sits directly on the left side.

My shoes are the latest

and my hair perfectly pulled back in a pony.

I put a smile on my face

and it reflected back at me.

I looked perfect.

No one could see,

my tag was rubbing against my neck

my shoes were pinching my toes,

and I had a blister on the bottom of my foot.

That pain I felt,

did not reflect in the mirror

nor to my friends or teachers.

From the outside I looked like a dream,

In the inside, I was living a nightmare.

But it goes deeper than the tag and blister.

Deep within I felt my heart bleeding

trying so hard not to break.

My thoughts constantly racing

and my stomach dropping.

I hold the tears back

that threaten to spill.

Alas, I look in the mirror again,

but this time I really look

I look hard

past my external appearance.

And for the first time

I saw a girl

fighting

conquering

A girl who faces challenges

head on and rises above them.

This is girl,

is me.