My mom had run into the store
I was alone, for once, the car was still
I looked out at the side view mirror
And saw myself reflected there
I smiled at myself
But slowly the smile twitched from my lips
I looked the girl in the mirror in the eyes
And saw something crumpling there
In those dark brown irises
Promising me that even I did not know the depths
They would one day see
Overhead, the clouds shifted
And the mirror reflected back at me half shadow, half sunbeam
Something about the whole moment struck me as beautiful
Something about the growing darkness, the slash of light,
those eyes that tried to warn me
and the seat belt still on, strapping me in
Something about it struck me as real

To date, that moment is one of the few pictures I've ever taken of myself

I found it again yesterday
I wish I could go back to that girl
And tell her what my eyes have tried to tell me all along
You don't know how dark it is going to get
I'd say

And if she could, I like to think she'd ask
Is it worth it?

To which I would always, without any doubts, answer
yes.