The Eyes of Others

She hated herself when she looked through the fog and was able to see herself. Only when someone liked her did she like herself; when she looked at herself through another’s eyes with the distortion of desire. This was why she did not reject those who liked her even when she didn't like them. She would resist at first, but at some point, she would succumb to their wills. This was also why she hated herself when she saw what she was doing, until the next person helped her lose sight of herself again and she was glamorized by someone who desired her. And so it goes, a blurry love that leaves behind a hateful clarity, until a new one comes along.

[Edited 20-12-2022. Wrote this a while ago and forgot about it in my drafts. I still don't like it. Needs something different. Except for the Billy Joel homage in the end.]