Mandy Smiles a Lot
“You smile all the time.” She chuckled, proudly identifying a distinguishing difference between my twin and me.
I was smiling even then, my nervous laughter hidden in the others’ delight at recognizing this phenomenon: Mandy smiles a lot.
I felt wounded by the comment though, and spent the rest of the party trying to figure out why; every smile thereafter making me cringe inside.
Why wasn’t I delighted to be recognized for my smiling?
-because I hurt inside and the smiles feel like masks moved by the wind…
-because Remmy wishes she could smile more, if her teeth weren’t broken …
Wounded again in the realization
even my genuine smiles are tainted
So, I smile to hide the revelation.
-M.E.
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