Wearing a Smile

[SilkiyTea]

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A princess bought me a home.
She lavished it in expensive, gaudy things.
Stocked it with food. Soaps. Clothes.
Everything I could ever need.

At first I smiled at all these nice pretty things.
Things I'd never had before. I slept in a real bed.
I brushed my teeth, and washed my hair.
But then I started to think.

What would Father say, if he saw me now?
I think he would take his scalpel.
And Press it to my cheek.
I know what he would say.

He'd tell me what would I be. Without that princess?
That I cannot change what I am, and always will be.
Nothing, nobody, nowhere.
Expendable as any other mutt.

It is my place of safety. But...
Not a place that is mine.
Everything she has given me, is hers.
To take away whenever she wants.

That is what I would deserve.
... ... ... ...
It's not what I want.

Big K told me, I need to be stronger.
I think I understand now.
If I'm not strong, I am not useful.
If I'm not useful, the pretty princess may...

Let me go.

I need to help her get the things she wants.
I need... To protect her. And.
Learn to patch her up.
I will be like Father. An ugly nasty person.

Surrounded by beautiful people.
. . .

Sometimes, I see his Smile in the mirror. Hovering behind me.