Fake

I stare at the faces surrounding me. It’s impossible to tell any unique features from the other.

Each a repeating drone. Their beauty slapped on then they're shipped out.

Suddenly I’m sick. I’m disgusted by something I feel I am about to understand.

Something on the tip of my tongue that soon has my soul trembling.

Fake.

The word screams in my mind.

I’m covered in this filth and I want to brush off this slime but I can’t escape it!

It surrounds me and fills my nostrils with its disgusting smell.

Their fake smiles, mixed with their fake hair, drowned in their fake personalities.

Not one person here has the guts to be themselves.

They quiver in the mornings as they staple their flimsy masks on and march out the door.

Using their lies to lead men to their graves.

I’m repulsed.

I am physically disturb by these wretched things around me.

I dare to call them people?

No.

I refuse to.

People are God’s greatest creation.

They have manipulated and perverted what was once so pure.

My gaze wanders from face to face and wonders if there is a breath of life behind any those eyes.

I sit in this feeling.

Curious as to where it will take me.

Will I stand up and walk out of this vile swamp or will it consume me as it has all the rest?

But in the midst of my decision I realize I am too late.

I look around me and my stare finds my reflection in the window.

Only my mirrored self does not look back at me.

I watch myself gawk lifelessly at the blue screen.

My eyes have been replaced by terrifying black holes.

My fingers melted into the surface of the key.

Finally, my reflection looks to me.

The mask slipping off and revealing the frightening face beneath.

A face like that of a leper.

No longer a soul and body united. For the soul had left years ago.

No more a man.

No more a shell.

Just

Fake.