Stare at reflection
in the mirror.
Search every inch of myself
for some mistake,
some glitch in
the system.
Am I too short?
Is my smile not pretty?
Do they not like my freckles?
Are my fantasy obsessions… too weird?
Eyes hidden behind slick
black-framed glasses,
friends tell me to get
contacts; my eyes are beautiful.
Doubt.
Stare at him longingly when
he’s not looking.
Flashes me a kind smile or
shows off with his friends.
Makes me blush.
I think he knows…
and that’s what hurts the most.
I’m too shy to say hi.
Stopped wearing vampire shirts
as often for him.
Started wearing make up.
Tears in the car ride home
after the dance.
He didn’t acknowledge me.
Didn’t see my new dress—I bought it
for him. So he’d see me.
He didn’t.
Look at myself in mirror.
What is wrong with me?
Where’s the glitch?
They don’t know it,
because I show a tough side.
But I’m fragile,
a small blue butterfly.
Hoping to be noticed.
Where’s my glitch?
