Perfection

“I’m a princess.”

A little girl, dancing joyously through the grass. Brown eyes sparkling, hair flying during twirls.

 

“I can do it!”

Eleven years old, trying her best to find her way.

 

“School is hard.”

A middle school-er matched with a sparkly pink backpack, finding the first cruelties of the world.

 

“No one likes me.”

An eighth grader sobbing, begging her mom for help.

 

“I don’t have any friends.”

An almost-sophomore told to join a group with someone she gets along with.

 

 “Maybe they’ll like me if I’m pretty.”

A senior in high school glaring at herself in the mirror wishing to change it all.

 

“No dinner, not hungry.”

A young adult, worrying her parents.

 

“I don’t need to eat.”

A twenty-year-old completely deaerating.

 

“I don’t care if I die. I need to be pretty.”

A doctor advising her to change, to be healthy again.

 

“I’m beautiful.”

A hole in the ground, a mother and father crying, and a weakened, peaceful face.

 

“I'll do anything to reach perfection.”