No4: YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL

PHOTO BY LUCIA AUERBACH

LUCIA AUERBACH

What does the death of innocence look like?

It’s when a dream is considered a lie

and when the man staring back at you in the mirror has no teeth

they are on the floor.

Along with the crumbled receipts of dresses that never fit,

tissues smothered with black mascara stains,

and a pair of daisy dukes covered with yellow smiley faces.

It’s when you have to remind yourself that you’re not dreaming (you are simply just tired),

and that the man on the corner yelling to you is not trying to be your friend.

It’s when the stars seem to be dimmer

and the moon is no longer interesting to watch.

Yet, the box of crayons still sits on your desk 

and the purple one can still draw.