Raw Earth Ink
spit, mixed with dirt – muddy words flow
The Woman in the Mirror
“Tomorrow,” she thought to herself. “Tomorrow is a new day.” She turned and viewed her backside in the mirror again. Definitely her best side. Turning forward again, she lifted her breasts where a woman twenty-five years her junior would have them. Too big, too saggy.
Her eyes lifted to her face, the creases of time creeping slowly deeper. She tilted her head, first one way then the other. Neither way really looked that attractive. Make-up made her look older. Going natural made her look heavier. There were more and more strands of silver in her hair these days. It wasn’t as thick and luscious as it had been.
Her tummy was a mom-tummy. Three children took their toll. And she had a love of potatoes and bread and sweets too. That didn’t help, she knew.
She met her own eyes again. Haunted and sad. They didn’t look like the her she saw in her mind. A tear trickled down her cheek. Watching it, her heart sank. It clung to her thick chin for a moment before releasing its hold and dropping to her aging breast.
No. There was no way anyone would want her. She saw what men (and even women) wanted. They wanted toned and tanned. Strong and firm. They wanted perky and small. It didn’t matter that she was intelligent or funny. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t lazy or was kind. They didn’t want stretch marks and chubby cheeks. They didn’t want unwanted hair or morning breath.
It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. She hung her head and reaching for her robe, regretted once again her weakness and poor decisions. Another night alone. Another long fucking night alone.
The woman in the mirror always told the truth, even when she tried to lie to herself while she wasn’t around. No, tomorrow wasn’t a new day after all.
tara caribou | ©️2019
11 Comments on “The Woman in the Mirror”
Raw Earth Ink 
This reminds me of a story I wrote….. I might share it when I get the guts. Awesome vignette. 👍💜
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So sad 🥺😢. I hate mirrors 🤬
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i know this feeling!
the thing is, i have found anyway, the woman in the mirror does not always tell the truth. i couldn’t even look in the mirror yesterday because i just looked old & fat & wretched.
but i know some days i look in the mirror and see a more beautiful person. i think what is inside us projects onto the mirror. i think it is more important to ignore the voices telling us otherwise & to listen to the voice that tells us we are young & beautiful & lovable…even if the mirror says something different.
i am waiting for the voice to come back, but i hope you hear it soon ❤
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Intimate, poignant … beautifully expressed. – tsk
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Thanks Tony.
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I think the mirror can lie a lot. I still liked it 😉
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I was thinking about this older woman I know who has such poor self-image.
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Maybe we should stop looking in the mirror so much. We never see how others really see us.
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That’s a good perspective, too.
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Great story. I can appreciate the mirror and the judgment of the image. I will always look for the opportunity to shave the years off and see the beautiful young lady that is and always will be.
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Yes, my dear friend who struggles with self image inspired this.
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