My mom used to tell me that beauty comes from inside, and that high self esteem is based on how you perceive yourself. That philosophy may have got me through high school, but college ate me alive. And I'm not talking about just any college. Art college, to be exact, otherwise known as a cut throat, Hunger Games type of society where creativity is butchered by competitiveness and illusive ideas about the “in”. Image may start within, but almost always ends up on a path dictated by others. And everyone knows that beauty and success are correlated. So being an older, realistic woman, and an artist, I wanted to make this beautiful. I needed to convey my happiness and relief, rather than depression and a cry for help. I had to remind everyone to celebrate my life, because I really was a happy person. I loved and I was loved. What more could I have asked for than love? I had tried on six outfits, scrutinizing every detail, and demanding nothing less than a high culture statement.
What do You think about Letting You Go: A Short Story?
