Caught in the reflection of a storefront window

Caught in the reflection of a storefront window,

I barely recognize myself—

every line feels borrowed,

a face washed out by harsh light,

like an uninvited guest.

The smile I wear, unsteady,

feels stitched on,

a photograph’s grin, framed in time,

while here I am, shifting in my skin,

a stranger wrapped in familiar scars.

I sift through old photos,

digging up smiles left behind,

the passport shot a ghost,

a flash that captures only the surface,

leaving my heart to languish unseen.