Skin so pale it borders translucency

Hair falling in loose curls around my face, black enough to see the universe within its tangles

Black lipstick, sarcastic smirks, short skirts, killer glares

No elderly woman dare glance twice in my direction at the local market

Because obviously, I wouldn't wear black lipstick if I didn't indulge in the occasional sacrifice

And obviously, I wouldn't broadcast my upper thigh tattoo if I didn't have loose morals

And I maintain that illusion for the entertainment of my peers

Early mornings, spending hours in front of the mirror, perfecting my sharp eyebrows

Hours behind the scenes, practicing my death glare and confident strut in five inch heels 

All to be sacrificed for the sake of comforting new friends

Like coaxing a small, timid animal towards me with a handful of seeds

I stick a pair of headphones in my nostrils and transform my mouth into a speaker

Just to bring a little joy to someone's day to prove we are all human

I exhibit my physical weakness as I collapse to the ground after attempting a push-up

Just to bring a little joy to someone's life to prove we all have our flaws

My curtain may be black as night and adorned in spikes

But it is merely a facade used to contribute to the lives of others

There's a little Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy in all of us