You always had this birthmark over your left eye which always made it look like you’d been in a fight. It was a mix of bright purples and reds. Something you’d never really liked and always tried to hide. Kids in middle and high school would bully you relentlessly. You learned to cover it with makeup because that’s the part of yourself you hated the most.

Soon, you realised, it became second nature to cover it. High school graduation, college graduation, Marine Officer Candidates School and The Basic School graduations, even throughout the police academy. You didn’t like the constant feelings of insecurity or the negative attention you bore because of it.

You made it through your rookie and PO II years just fine. It was your PO III years that gave you the most problems hiding the birthmark. During one particularly bad heatwave rolling through LA and after chasing a suspect through the streets, sweat was dripping down your face, through your makeup, and into your eye. You took a wet wipe from your shop and wiped your eye.

You didn’t even think twice about the fact that it would remove the makeup and reveal your best kept secret to everyone you’ve tried so hard to keep down. Joining the rest of your PO III’s and their rookies, the conversation was easy until Angela, another PO III, noticed.

“Oh my god, are you okay?”

Angela says as she leans in closer, concern etched across her face.