For the longest time I avoided looking into the mirror
Terrified of my reflection.
Scared of the monster i had tried so hard to conceal.
Year after year, I barely gave more than a passing glance
Until that fateful day.
Curiosity overcame fear.
What i saw blew my mind.
My monster was nothing more than a girl.
Laugh lines, worry lines, and imperfections marred her face.
Freckles scattered across her cheeks.
Messy head of curls framed her features.
It was her eyes that caught my attention.
Such a dark brown her pupils got lost in them.
But her eyes told the most wondrous story.
It was a tale of fear. 
Fear of the unknown
Fear of never being loved
Fear of never measuring up.
It was a tale of happiness.
Happy to be alive.
Happy to have a home and a family intact.
Happy to know she always had a place in this world.
It was a tale of anger.
Anger over being held back.
Anger over being lied to.
Anger about falling in love just to have her heart broken.
It was a tale love.
Love from family and friends.
Love from softball, her true love.
Love from the fact she was alive and well.
But most importantly it was a tale of life.
The ups and the downs
The smiles and tears
Friendships and betrayals
They all play a role in shaping a person.
This girl in the mirror may have been young but she had lived and continues to live. Her smiles conquer her tears. She learned to dance in the rain without the umbrella.
My monster in the mirror was nothing more than a relfection of the person i am.