The Mirror

"You're so beautiful?"
No, I’m not. At least, not the way I see myself.
Scrolling through my own pictures on social media I don't find myself lacking grace, always. 

On screen, I can almost believe I’m fine. 
In reality, I can’t.

They say beauty comes from within. 
And I am kind,
So why doesn’t that kindness ever shine through me?

They say beauty is all about your heart.
Then is it a scam?
A colorful fabrication of a socially validated lie by which all our lives have been painted?

They say, feel confident, 
embrace your flaws, 
own your scars,
then you’ll be beautiful.
But is that really true?

Is it really possible for anyone to feel beautiful 
when all they see are scars, acne, self-doubt,
insecurities and fear stitched into their face, their eyes, their thoughts,
woven into the core of their very being?

So, whose fault is it?
Theirs?
Or is it the society that carved rigid standards into us,
teaching us to feel never beautiful enough?

If I don’t feel beautiful, is it really me who’s broken, 
or the mirror I’ve been given?