Forever New

by Melody Lin

I can feel it.

It glides down,
down my body,
Head to feet.
Every. Single. Inch.

Its viscosity,
Trying to cling to me
Holding on for dear life.

I can't allow that,
I can never allow it,
Lest people suspect.
Suspect that it's not me.

I step over the threshold,
Nearly tripping.
Even in its dying form, it latches on,
Trying so, so hard to keep itself intact,
Keep itself from slipping into oblivion.
Of course it never truly does slip, but I always wish it would.

It all stacks up, and they eventually turn against me.
Even the supposed good ones,
Because in the far corner, the pile lingers, even as the older ones fade.

I do this everyday,
Each skin not seeming to fit right.

Into the pile it goes.

I made a mistake.

Into the pile it goes.

I smiled, looked happy and content.

Into the pile it goes.

I succeeded.

...

Into the pile it goes.

It will never end,
But do I really want it to?