“To My Body” by Ashley Rosario

Ashley Rosario, 20

My friend mirror once told me “I know you don’t love yourself” I asked him “how do you know that” He said “because when I would say I’m disgusting & you wouldn’t disagree” “I would make jokes and you would always joke around with me”. ever since i started to think.

So I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve mistreated you. The bathroom mirror would be the first thing I would run to..

not to look at you and admire you but to look at you and belittle you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I called you ugly, hideous in fact. I would stare at your scars & marks & be ashamed.

only because I felt like i should be the one to be blamed.

I should be blamed for putting you through everything you’ve been through. I told my friend mirror about you. I told him how skinny you were. how disgusted you felt being underneath your own skin. How much it bothered you. how weak you’ll feel when i would show you , you.

To my body.

Even though it took me pain and time to realize how beautiful you are, You are now my temple. the temple where I’ll always go to, to praise you. the temple I’ll maintain. the temple I’ll rebuild no matter how many times the storms , rain , and words from the outside world would try to destroy you. the scars, the pain , is the beauty within you. dear body, you’re my temple. You’re beautiful and you’re worth it. You’re perfect. I love you. I will take care of you til my very last breath. my body. dear body, I love you.