Forthcoming in OxMag

I usually nap during my haircut, but today I can’t sleep. I’m not sleepy today. I’m looking at the barber’s mirror. Who is this person in the mirror? I’ve seen this face before. It’s the face I see but it’s also the face others see. I know it’s my face. I’m not sure I like it. I’m not sure if others like it. Am I ugly? My nose seems too long for my face. My eyes are too close together. I look weird. Is this really what I look like? Do I look like something else? The face I imagine is not the face I see.
      I stare for a long time at my face. My face is horrible. Why do I have this face and not some other face? Other people are so attractive. Lina is very attractive. Her face is perfect. I love Lina and her perfect face. Does she love my face? I don’t think I love my face. I wish I had someone else’s face.
      My hair is messy. It’s pushed forward and I look silly. I don’t think I like my hair. It makes me ugly. I wish it were darker, like Lina’s hair. Lina’s hair is beautiful. I love Lina.
…

Read the rest in an upcoming issue of OxMag — 2,688 words

This story was rejected 41 times before acceptance.