Staring contest

By Miriam Chester

reflecting

means looking at my reflection in the

pool of my life

i don’t like the person looking

back at me

reflecting

means looking into her eyes

she smiles

she laughs

she waves hello

reflecting

i stare into her eyes

i see what they can’t

i see the tears

i see the pain

the suffocating weight upon her chest

the silent monsters

the isolation

the addiction

the hate

i see all the things she

didn’t want to admit

i see all the things she

never said

never did

did say

did do

i see the people she

hurt

i see the one person she hurt

the most

i see her

i see her

and she sees me

what is it that she sees?

someone stronger?

braver?

better?

trying

she is trying

i am trying

it’s a competition that

neither of us are winning

tears cloud up her

face

i wipe them

away

yes

i am trying