Things I've Said to My Reflection

"You look tired."

"You always look tired."

"Is that a new thing on your face

or have you just started noticing things?"

"You should smile more."

"Not like that."

"Less teeth."

"When did that happen?"

(I don't elaborate. We both know.)

"It's fine."

"It's going to be fine."

"It's probably going to be fine."

I step back from the mirror.

The reflection stays.

We've reached an understanding:

not honesty, exactly,

but something we can both live with.