Do you really know yourself?

By Eliza

Are you the same person in your mind as           the mirror?

Every morning, I meet a stranger in the mirror. We lock eyes for a second too long—she blinks first. I raise an eyebrow; she copies. Perfect mimic. But is she me?

In my mind, I’m louder. Braver. I say the witty thing out loud, not five minutes later in my head. I dance without hesitation, laugh with my teeth. I’m chaos and color and conviction. But the mirror girl—she hesitates. She smooths her hair, watches her angles, edits her smile.Sometimes, I wonder: is she a watered-down version of me, or am I just imagining a brighter version of her?

The version of me in my mind cries without apology, dreams without practicality, lives without fear. But the one in the mirror? She folds those feelings into neat little boxes and labels them “Not Now.”And yet, I know her. She's not a stranger—she’s just tired of pretending. I think she wants what I want: to be whole, to be real, to be the loud laugh in the room. So maybe it all comes down to authenticity. Of me being just one, and not different versions to please an unrealistic group of people. It’s all about loving all those versions, and maybe that makes all the difference.