I stand erect in front of the mirror,
I guess I knew it was happening,
I could never stop it.

When I see my reflection
I don’t recognize it,
And what’s more,
It doesn’t recognize me.

She looks back at me,
I don’t understand
I know it’s me,
But I don’t know who she’s become.

She looks like me,
Sounds like me,
But there is something unrecognizable,
An aspect I can’t recall,
Being present before.

How she has grown,
Suddenly mature.
I look, and look once more.

I turn away from the mirror,
Close my eyes and see nothing, darkness surrounds me.
Shaking, I turn back around,
Look in the mirror,
Astounded at what I see.

What I see,
The person staring back at me,
Is someone I’ve never dreamt I’d be.
She’s beautiful, strong, and intelligent.
She’s me.