There comes a time in your life where you lean in closely under the bright lights fixtures in the bathroom. You feel the cool ceramic sink on your fingertips, which awakens the sensation of courage that courses through your veins. This is the moment when you truly see yourself…. For who you are in the looking glass.

The perplexing thing is this is the moment where you realize that you are beautiful, and the unique quirks that make you stand out, are what make you brilliant. This is the moment where you exhale, straighten up higher than the tallest evergreen and feel the corners of your smile stretch out further than the extent of the equator.

This is time to free yourself from the over analytical criticisms you have tucked away, in a cookie jar of self hatred that eats you up like a blood thirsty vermin. The stereos bass bumps from the next room and you dip to the rhythm. You grasp the cylinder hairbrush and allow yourself to belt out the lyrics to a screamo version of Love Story. You get lost in this pure moment of exhalation, and feel empowered to just be…. Whatever that means.

The crimson towel that was once draped over your shoulders like a greek goddess, falls to the tile flooring like a ribbon caught by the pull of the northwest winds. You are caught by surprise at your reflection. The light runs across your creamy pale skin, and fingertips rest on your naked hips. You feel the metronome rhythm of your heart beating against your ribcage. Your breasts rise fall, heaving with the heavy weight of the words you can never say. Your mouth twitches at the prospect of letting your beautiful thoughts, trickle from your tongue like an honest waterfall. Your ballet anchored sole shoes keep you grounded from the harsh Ontario winter winds.

There comes a time in your life where you lean in closely under the bright light fixtures in the bathroom. This is the moment when you truly see yourself.