Everyone knows 

the story of 

the ugly duckling

that turned out 

to be a 

beautiful swan:

 

Eyes that were once

so quick to leave hers

stayed;

mouths that once

sneered at her

dropped.

 

No one dared 

to make fun of

the ugly duckling

for she could not be

called ugly

anymore.

 

She thought her story

ended here

with happiness

and acceptance,

but found out quickly 

this was not the case.

 

She grew pretty one day

only to have eyes on her

and then hands on her.

She realized if this was 

the cost of beauty,

she did not want it.