Inspired by “Sippy Cup” — Melanie Martinez

You were fixing your makeup in the mirror — again — even though class had already started. Your hands were shaking. Mikey slipped in through the back door, skipping his own class the moment he realized you weren’t at your desk.

He found you staring at your reflection, lip trembling like you were trying to hold everything in. “You’re doing that thing again,” he said quietly. You wiped your eyes fast. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.” But you weren’t. And his face softened instantly. He walked closer, lowering his voice: “You don’t have to hide from me.” Your breath wavered.

“All the makeup in the world won’t make me… feel better,” you muttered. Mikey’s gaze softened even more — gentle, steady, unbothered by the parts of you that weren’t perfect. “I don’t look at the makeup,” he said. “I look at you.” And somehow, that was the first thing all day that didn’t hurt.