gia.

the eyes in her reflection no longer sparkle. results of the potion, so strong, so strong, everyday just a bit stronger. a potion, a dabble of prescription medications, served with exhaustion, a pinch of over the counter (or not) pain relievers, scented, and to mask it all a smile on a painted face. the witch of her own demise. she used to dance with the butterflies and sing to the moon, but that scared them. it is never wise to stray far from the norm...no.no.no.for you shall be noticed as was she. it is never advisable to be too good at something: too beautiful, too smart, too happy.it is acceptable, though, to be too sad, as long as it does not bother anyone else. your positivity, you see... it gets in the way, shadows, others and makes them resentful. everything in moderation, they tell you. and nothing lasts forever, they whisper, as they inject your happiness with tranquilizers and leave you: a tint of grey, sometimes blue (but only when you inject yourself).

her lips are perfectly red, she notes, her eyes so wonderfully lined. as she stares at her own reflection and smiles. not the smile she would share with the moon, nor the smile of the butterflies, she left those smiles with the scents of her childhood. 

this smile is jaded, this smile is full: of scorn. to the missing sparkle.

she begins to run, to move... to tear at her perfectly tailored dress.

she begins to dance, right there, in the reception of someone's fathers promotion (was it hers? she could not be sure)

she begins to run, to where her happiness was buried, to where her shadow lay.

she runs.runs.runs. far away from: them. legs move in ecstasy, pain from immobility for so long.

she stops. breathes. finds herself disoriented. 

she hears them. the clinking of their glasses, the chatter of nothingness. her eyes are closed. she tries to catch her breath. it catches her.

"are you ok madame?" 

she sighs, opens.her eyes. looksup to see her reflection in the mirror. her hands empty, the waiter asking her the same question, again.

she nods, and walks away.

some potion in her clutch. some potion to make them disappear.

or her? its too late now to know.