Growth

Freckles create a galaxy of shapes over creamy skin. Each one carefully placed over the crevices that form the cheekbones while shooting over the expanse of skin downward towards the lift of the lips. Their presence brought unwanted attention from which they often hid beneath the deceitful imitation of skin spread above the original. Living in shame they continued to hide, their artful expression never seeing daylight. Eyes hollowed with each long night become darkened with a stencil, forming a facade of the presence of a soul behind the glossed over stare. The act so well practiced, only a trained professional could ever tell the pretension apart from the truth. For years each day stayed the same, floating about on Earth merely existing only to be rescued by the movement of fingers ripping the mask away. Freed, they now rested on her face no longer afraid. The nights became shorter when sleep finally came. The gates around her heart squeaked as they opened, her soul slowly climbing out. With a squint in her eyes, the light shined through making the sparkle of her soul noticeable through the chocolate of the pupil. The puzzle completed it made its debut beside the sunrise each day. 

ER