“Look! Do you see?”
He asked as he turned her to face the mirror and removed his hand from over her eyes.
Perplexed, she gazed up and down. It was just her, as she usually was.
“Do you see how beautiful you are?”
He asked her while holding her from behind.
That’s when she realised what he was trying to do.
Every time he called her beautiful, she’d smile a condescending smile. Of course, she knew better. He was blinded with love, but she, she could see. All her imperfections, all of her flaws.
Every time he admired her confidence, she could only manage a smirk. Pfft, it’s all a facade. She’s always a nervous wreck inside.
Every time he complimented her intelligence, she’d just absently nod along. Second guessing her every decision, thought and action was second nature to her by now.
Every time he’d be left flummoxed. Wondering how an amazing person could be so crippled with self doubt.
He’d call her resplendent, radiant, ethereal and hoped that she’d believe. She’d only hug him back and hoped he’d stop speaking.
Every word of praise just made her feel like an imposter. She knew of all her failings. She was never worthy enough, she could never deserve enough, she was not bold enough, she was not smart enough, what she did wasn’t enough, she was just never enough. She was never enough.
“Look!” She cried, as she turned away from the mirror. “Don’t you see?”
(This post is a part of my regular feature on Mental Health Awareness. Self doubt, coupled with anxiety, eats away at the very core of a person. They may look confident and poised and, yet, be riddled with the worst of fears, with the least of confidence and the most of undeservedness. I am trying to do my best in spreading the word about mental health issues to break the taboo surrounding them. The aim is to help people recognise warning bells and seek proper help for themselves or their loved ones. If my efforts strike a chord with you, please spread awareness around you as well.
I’m also providing links to my previous posts hereinbelow:
- The importance of spreading Mental Health Awareness
- My personal experience with depression – In all things beautiful
- My perspective on anxiety – Where do you go to, my lovely?
Thank you)
Moonlighting Scrivener 
I can feel the anxiety of a mind suffering from depression in this prose. How when you are suffering with it, no matter how the world looks at you inside you are a wreak and your soul screams in agony trying to find one single human on the face of this earth, who can understand your plight.
LikeLike
Beautifully written 🙂
I could feel the conflict in the girl’s mind.
Nobody’s ever perfect or without flaws. We’ve all got some. But despite them, we’re all beautiful in our ways 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we are. It becomes problematic when people are only able to see their flaws and doubt themselves all the time. They can’t help it and it adds to their anxiety. A little help from counselling in this regard can go a long way. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person