I Only Feel Soft When No One’s Watching

I always wait until the house is quiet before I open the jar. The body butter is thick, almost stubborn, and I have to dig my nails in to get enough. I rub it in, pretending I’m just moisturizing, but really I’m trying to erase the way my skin cracks under the bathroom light. I do this after showers, after bad days, after I’ve picked at my own arms out of habit. I want to believe the softness means something, that if I keep smoothing and smoothing, maybe I’ll feel less raw inside. But the truth is, I only feel beautiful when I’m alone, sticky and shining in the dark, hoping no one knocks on my door. #SkinStory #MirrorFatigue #BeautyBurnout #Beauty