Wearing a Smile

[SilkiyTea]

---

My Father taught me that ugly things should not be seen. It's why we use bandages to cover wounds.
Why magic and potions can hide away scars.
Why I should never show my face.

He said he never smiled, because his smile was an ugly, nasty thing.
A thing full of malice and love. A love for what he did, when he smiled.
When I said I had seen him smile. He told me my eyes were bad.

Broken, ugly little things. Like a mangy mutt.
I just thought he was right.
Father is always right.

But I am stupid. So I tried to make a smile like his.
On a paper bag. I dripped ink.
I squiggled a big line!

I showed him my Smile. I hoped he would be proud.
He laughed and laughed. Wordlessly did he grin.
Then he adorned his smile.

Purple is a pretty color.
Purple is a scary color.
Purple is my favorite color.

That is what his smile taught me.
That I should be afraid when Father smiles.
That bad things happen when he smiles.


That night, he never stopped smiling.
That night, I listened to Mother scream.
That night, I learned how scary.

A Smile.

Could Be.