eyes. i feel eyes on me. all the time. at school, in public, even at home. there’s no escaping it. their stares bore into my body. criticizing my every move. my knotted stomach churns. my palms sweat. have i made the right choice…? have i said the right thing...? those questions fill my mind, eating away at my self-esteem. how do i evade their judgment? is that even attainable? must i learn to live with this unease the rest of my life? i’ve become ashamed of myself. i hide behind a mask each day. never faltering. always suppressing. but i’ve become too weak. i can’t hold up the weight of my facade. my heart gives out. my mask fades. i’m faced with a mirror. no one else in sight. and when i look up, the only eyes on me are my own. Ava Bucur
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