I blink two times

in the mirror

It doesn’t blink back

That girl with braided hair

and rosy cheeks

isn’t the one who I used to be

I used to go for long drives

I used to dance when the moon shines

I used to wear bold red lipstick on my lips

But now they are all chapped and dried

Now I am just a hapless creature

Finding myself

Locked in a room

plain and white

No pictures to gaze at

No memories to look back

Just plain white walls

Reminding me of all the horrors

Of all my fears

Of being alone and gone

I pray once again to be in the crowd

I may not stand apart

But I wish to exist

I won’t perish

even if they hoped I did

~Aamani Sharma