I looked downward at the roundedness of my stomach
and flatness of my bottom.
I spent years begging the two to trade places.
I prayed to gods I don't believe in and pleaded to the mirror to make this change,
for the sake of my joy.
For the sake of my sanity.
all the countless hours I spent staring at my reflection
came to nothing.
Joy was elsewhere - and I hadn't left my image-obsessed self to find it.
I'm certain there will always be days of discomfort
wars rarely end without injury.
Sometimes I hold hot tea at the base of my belly
to remind myself that all things deserve warmth.