I saw a young girl today who looked just like me

on her face I saw the saddest eyes-

deep-set and dark with a whirlpool of emotion

she gave a smile as if trying to keep her sadness in disguise

as she walked I noticed she hesitated with each step

as if each step of her life was more painful than the one before

I noticed for each one she took she look back and one more tear fell from her eye

someone had driven a hole through her heart's core

she wasn't very thin but moved as if she were

she appeared to be very weak and tired

yet she still held her head up with some dignity

her strength made her a girl to be admired

suddenly she fell down and put her face close to mine

I saw the tears com down in streams-

her mouth opened as if to scream-

"Dear God, give me freedomd!"

I cried this out and struck at her face

her whole self smashed and shattered

for that person, that young girl was me

standing in a room full of mirrors

-hurting at the reflections

feeling I had died inside

seeing what the world saw me as

knowing reflections leave nothing to hide.