I saw you in a mirror today

But it wasn’t your face I saw

It was mine.

 

I saw your hardened eyes

The way your mouth tipped into cruelty

The look on your face when you stripped me of pride

 

I saw the look of disappointment

The wrinkles in your forehead

Your eyebrows furrowed in disgust

 

I hadn’t imagined you there

You were always a part of me

I only wished you could see the good in me

 

I live my life in fear of what I could be,

Never what I want to see,

Always as it should be.

 

I was too afraid to raise my head.

I didn't want to look you in the eye

And see mine looking back at me.

 

Every day I told myself I would never be like you

I was afraid of the monster

But now I realize the monster was inside me

I just used you as an excuse to release it for the world to see.