The Girl by Alona Yakovenko

Each time she looks in the mirror,

the girl sees someone else. Her reflection changes with her mood over time. Happiness makes her face shine brighter than any smile, while sadness overshadows every trace of glowing cheerfulness.

One day, she comes home after a long walk with friends. Without even thinking, she repeats a familiar ritual: she looks into the mirror. Fortunately, the mirror reflects the image of an overjoyed and confident person, filled with sincere interest in life. The reason is quite simple but deeply meaningful: friends. Yes, friends are the people who can easily make her laugh, brighten her day and offer priceless support. Such moments leave a clear mark on her reflection.

Her appearance completes the picture. The girl wears a bold black leather jacket over a white T-shirt with the image of a retro-style motorcycle. Beneath, she has bright-grey bell-bottoms that slightly cover her chocolate-brown sneakers, giving her outfit a vintage ’70s vibe. This choice of clothing achieves two goals at once: first, it’s comfortable. Second, it suits her personality… almost.

Despite her tough clothes, she is gentle inside. The girl is kind and sweet, but she wants to show the fragments of strength, scattered throughout her soul. This is good defence against the world that sometimes tries to crush her.

Her reflection is woven from paradoxes, which is absolutely normal. People are made of many different pieces, and having all those differences in one person is not a weakness. It’s a gift.