The Beautiful Woman

She wakes up early because her biological clock won’t let her sleep in past eight. Her hair is tangled and of course, she didn’t take her makeup off from the night before so it’s now smeared across her face. She blinks awake and spends 10 extra minutes in bed thinking about the hours ahead. She’s a beautiful mess; her eyes tired and still a blank canvas of the day. She needs coffee to start the morning and clings to the cup while inhaling the crisp air. She’s so full of hope and possibilities. She looks at everyday as a new beginning, desperately trying to escape the pain. The beautiful woman is always smiling but covering up the tears.

The littlest things bring joy to her life. The couple walking their dog, the grandfather on his porch, the smell of breakfast from a few houses over. She sees the good in everything, although she has witnessed so much evil. She remains strong, and standing upright. The beautiful woman is rooted firmly by her family values, her love for Jesus, and her bright future. 

I wish you could see her like I see her. When you talk to her, you know the beautiful woman is different. She asks questions, she digs deeper, she makes your heart aglow. The beautiful woman burns herself lighting others. Yet, she is constantly giving her fire away. Always, she trusts too easily and feels too deeply. 

The world she sees is strange to us. She understands there is purpose in everything. Her colors are brighter, more intense. Her eyes are filled with curiosity. She reads books about adventures, stories of intelligent female protagonists, essays about artwork in the most divine museums. The beautiful woman is easy to fall in love with. She’ll let you into her life, she’ll show you her favorite nooks, and she’ll make you believe in magic. 

She’s learning to swim out deep into the ocean, she’s learning to climb to the tallest heights, and she’s learning to sleep in complete darkness. Because she finally realized, the real monsters to fear are everywhere. They’re walking the streets, they smile as you pass by, they breathe the same air. Monsters are good at pretending they are human.