Glass

The easiest way to avoid facing trauma is to avoid facing life.

Don’t look in the mirror. Nobody wants to see the truth.

The mirror challenges you. Forces you to face yourself.

Nobody wants that. Avoidance is better, easier.

The mirror sees the dark circles, the sleepless night. It reveals your skin – picked and torn from anxiety and pain.

Eye contact is even worse. It forces you to connect with another human.

A human who can judge you – pick you apart like your face.

Avoid their gaze. Avoid your own gaze.

You are broken. Shattered glass that cuts anyone who tries to help.

The trauma is pouring from your veins – staining the lives of others.

Quick! Shove it back in. Don’t connect, avoid.

Smile instead. The fake kind that doesn’t reach your eyes.

Good news, nobody looks close enough to check your eyes. They will never know.

They stop at the smile – too consumed with their own lives to see what’s really there.

It’s not their fault but it’s not yours either.

Just stay away from the mirrors… and the glass… and the humans.

Isolate. Hide until you are ready.