I’m Positively Presentable

by Melody Lin

They say the more put together you are,
The smoother the jacket,
The straighter the tie,
The more they’ll want you.

Looking in the mirror,
Seeing how that smile fits you,
Then frowning to see what truth looks like,
Is a routine you remember well...

Before walking through that door
Connecting your world of comfort
To the real world,
You glance at yourself one last time.

Every. Single. Day. You repeat this routine
Over
And over,
Again
And again.
Until you get it just right.
Only then are you allowed
Into a society,
Where perfection is prized
And anything less is shunned.

Some days you’ll feel the way you look
When first gazing at the mirror
With your smile,
While others just can’t be that way.

Some days you’ll feel like you’re drowning,
And you’ll let your lungs burn,
The flames licking
Burning
Scorching your insides,
All from holding it in.

You’ll wilt,
And it will become apparent.
You can’t always keep that pressed look,
The coveted perfection.

But that’s what we ultimately strive for.
Because otherwise

No one will want you.

Isn’t that how it works?