5:30 in the morning is too **** early
Stressed and tired I uncapped my eyeliner pen
I pause and look at my reflection
I may look stressed and tired, but what can’t eyeliner fix.

5:37, and my eyeliner is done
Perfectly flicked up and smooth
It’s somewhat silly, this idea in my head
When in eyeliner nothing can hurt me
I look more calm, less like a frightened child
A student, ready for the day
I smile.

3:30, and I’m done with school
I say my goodbyes and work my way out of the building
I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a glass case
Calm, collected, composed.
I get home and I work
And work
And work
And work.

8:25, I’m finished with school
I breath as I exit out of my history paper
Nine pages of college ramblings, good enough for an A
I breathe and stretch

8:28, I’m splashing cold water on my face
I pop my head up and watch as my facade washes away
And my truth is there, as it always is
A nervous child hiding under now smeared eyeliner.