By Stella Pollock, TIWP Student

“You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough.*”
She hears a rendition of this line every time she expresses distaste.
Distaste for her bloated body.
Distaste for her tired brain.
Distaste for her textured skin.
Never does she hear sympathy.
Never does she hear, ‘I understand.’
But she’s aware, 
aware that her comforter has looked in the mirror and felt the same way.
All she hears is a compliment shadowed by defensive frustration.
No one seems brave enough to admit that they share in her struggles.
They say that she’s good enough.
She thinks that she’s good enough.
But only sometimes.
She’s not sure if she will ever know that she’s good enough.
At least not until they can surrender their masks
and everyone can lock hands
and say that we are all good enough together.

* Quote from Greta Gerwig’s screenplay from the movie, “Barbie”