Member-only story
poem
Sometime last year my mask started to wear thin.
I’d forget it at times when walking out the door
After a long night and earlier morning
Taking care of family, my priority, took precedence over searching for it before I faced the world.
As long as I can remember I wore it faithfully.
Carefully placed it on my night side table retrieving it before I left out the door
Wearing it even when the temperatures rose
Even if sweat ran down my face from discomfort,
Or my skin turned red or broke open with anger.
I tolerated it, even took twisted comfort in its presence all my life.
But this year something shook me
And I ripped it off.
Time is short, no one knows the days.
I’m gonna spend my remaining ones left,
Unapologetically, me.
Rakysha
