beautiful smiles

the girl stared at her reflection and pushed her hair away from her face and then, she smiled.
she barely sits in her chair long enough for me to show her a picture or to eat without a mess on the table but there she sits in front of the strange piece of glass that reflects her clumsy self and she smiles. she arranges herself so that she's right in front of the long and narrow mirror placed right next to the classroom door but nothing outside the door distracts her. not a sound. not the sunlight. nothing. she sits calmly and for a moment or two lock eyes with the strange girl on the opposite side of the mirror and they began to share their secret world and as if they have some unspoken knowledge of all things simple, they break into a smile so genuine, so real and innocent you can't help but stare.

in that moment, i thought
wow.
what a beautiful smile.
she smiles at her own reflection.
she smiles at herself.
yes.
she smiles.