the silent panic of rehearsing a casual lie in the mirror before walking out the door

You Do Not Have to Convince the Dawn

The mirror holds your gaze while you rehearse the words that will make you look okay. You practice the smile, the tone, the casual lie that says 'I'm fine' when you are breaking inside.

The panic is quiet, but it is loud enough to drown out the morning light. You feel like you have to build a mask before you can walk out the door.

But the light does not need your performance to see you. It saw you before you spoke a single word.

It sees the tremor in your hands and the exhaustion behind your eyes. You do not have to convince the dawn that you are worthy of rising.

The sun comes up regardless of your disguise. The light is already in the room, waiting for you to put the mask down.

You are not the lie you tell to survive the day. You are the truth that remains when the acting stops.

Drawing from

Matthew 6:18, John 9:1-7

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