She Looked Just Like Me at Eight

4 min read

1 hour ago

And she reminded me of everything I had forgotten to love about my life!!

Mira walked through the quiet streets, her coat wrapped tight around her, but the chill didn’t reach the tight knot in her chest. Her steps echoed softly against the empty sidewalks. She was tired, tired of days that blurred into each other, of carrying a weight she didn’t know how to name.

That’s when she saw the child.

A girl, no more than seven or eight, sitting on the curb under a flickering lamppost. She had untidy hair, a crooked smile, and wide, curious eyes. On her wrist was a small, faded thread bracelet, knotted simply, worn smooth from years of being touched. Something about that bracelet was so touching. While she was thinking about that bracelet, she heard a voice.

“Why do you look so sad?” the girl asked.

Mira stopped, startled. The question was simple, almost too simple, yet it felt like it had cut right to the hollow in her chest.

“No… I don’t think so,” Mira said, laughing softly, almost embarrassed.

The girl tilted her head. “Don’t lie. I can see it.”

Mira shivered. Somehow, she believed her. She crouched down, closer to the light. “Mmmm… may be alot” she admitted.