Image Source: Pexels- Arina Krasnikova
It’s an Asian thing, I say
To my baffled friends
As I place my mock Mojito
Among their crystal-rimmed cocktails.
Their laugh hides
Their disbelief and
Honestly? I don’t blame them.
Twenty-one is fun, they said.
You can go to bars!
Let’s go to bars!
…
Can you go to bars?
I stare at my eyes and wish
A wave of ocean blue
Could wash them clean.
Don’t smash the mirror,
I say aloud. But I want.
I take a brush and buffer
The bronzer around my eyes.
The door opens and
A beautiful woman with
The whitest blonde hair
I’ve ever seen.
She pulls the corners of her eyes
I wish they were longer, she says.
A lump in my throat.
I want to scream.
You don’t want this! I
Want to say.
You don’t want to get sick
On a night out.
You don’t want to feel your body
Reject the poison as
Soon as it touches
Your lips.
You don’t want your friends
Judging you for
Ordering a mocktail
Though they are definitely delicious!
I leave the bathroom.
Pinch my cheeks into a smile.
I order another mocktail.
Image Source: Unsplash- Bucography
This was written by our contributing writer, Lauren DeSantis.
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