I used to smile for pictures back when I didn't know any better. I used to even think that growing up would be fun. that my life would just come easily. my grades and relationships would be just peachy. but as I grew and my grades dropped and friends vanished, I realized that they made you smile for those pictures for a reason. you didn't have a choice. yeah maybe you were excited about getting your picture taken so you'd flash a smile here and there. but as you got older you'd learn that even when you were little, you were forced to believe that everything would be ok.
you realize now that nothing is the way the photographer promised. 'gorgeous smile' they would say. 'oh what a beautiful picture' they would say. they told you things that weren't true. they were preparing you for every lie that slapped you in the face.
in the future you look back on that picture, the one that got all the fake compliments. and you look at yourself in the reflection of the glass, and ask, 'why can't I just accept the lies I get now, like I did back then'
