‘JUST ADD WATER’
That’s how it’s supposed to happen, right?
Tie the shoelaces, make the brownies, wear the apron and boom! There’s love. All the instincts. All the understanding and patience. All unconditional.
But instead you smile, sympathize, wear the right blue…
always striving, always falling short. The ‘normal’ seems unreachable yet remains so tempting. You check your reflection to see you have enough flour on your elbows but that’s not what catches your eye.
You stare in surprise as the mirror shows a wickedness shadowing your brow. Emotions rage where love should soothe and somehow you feel corrupted. Unclean. Un-wholesome. Unable. More afraid of yourself than anything. It shows the one you were warned of as you tugged at the skirts of the ‘she’ you looked up to. History has turned the corner and is staring you in the face. She is you. You are the one holding out the apple in the desperate attempt to regain your sanity, to regain your identity – the identity that fit and had its place in the world.
The walls close in instead. There’s no room for you anymore and the box you’re living in has twisted your form. Your shoes are unforgiving iron making it hard not to stumble on the road.
For a time you hid away in the deep dark wood but before long they found you. While you yearn for company and even forgive the destruction of needy mouths it seems that, despite your best intent, your sugar-spun house has hurt the teeth of everyone who comes near it. You begin to wonder if being tricked into the oven wouldn’t be a relief.
The mirror mocks you. You don’t recognize yourself anymore. Do you even have any of your own words to say anymore or can they only spill like toads? No pearls, just poison. Is that all that’s left?
Your silent reflection can only copy the shapes your mouth makes as you ask it: When did I become wicked? If they just add water is the cure instant or am I in danger of melting from my tears?
Illustration Getting Free copyright of ~exo-gfx on deviantART . You can see it full size and find the artist’s gallery by clicking on the image.
