The Japanese have a method called Kintsugi,
or golden joinery
which is the art of repairing broken pottery with gold.

She is a Russian doll,
shedding her old self
for a new one
each time she looks in the mirror and
hates what she sees.

She is porcelain,
cracking with every gesture,
every comment, word,
every snide remark.

But that's the beauty of Russian dolls.
Every time she shatters,
a new her steps out timidly,
squinting her eyes at
the bright bathroom light,
mesmerised by the yellow of it,
wondering how she's never come across it
in her dark chrysalis of abuse.
How could something be so beautiful and guiding
yet pierces her sight with every glance?

The remnants of the old-her
cuts her skin
as she picks them up
and pieces them together
with pure gold acting as cement.

A thin smile is plastered onto the dolls's newly-repaired face
as it is picked up and placed onto a shelf
with all its old selves
and they are ready to comply.