Fragmented Reflections

I stood before the mirror, wiping mascara,

as the fog lifts, revealing a stranger.

Who is this face, with shadows of doubt,

a ghost of the self I used to tout?

A picture from summer flashes on my screen,

a memory of laughter, of living unseen.

The smile is vibrant, untouched by the gray,

while I stand here, lost in the mirror’s ballet.

Smudged edges distort the truth of my skin,

and I search for the girl I thought had been kin.

Each line tells a story of burdens and fears,

yet I can’t find the courage to wipe away tears.