Reflection

by Stephanie Cressler

Folded on my Nana’s left thigh, back pressed into her breasts, my face lightens as my Nana outlines my features with her non acrylic, ruby red nails. As she divides my nose and swipes across my mustache line, I smell the polish solvents and feel calcium thickening her round filed nails. I close my eyes when she swoops up my cheekbones, around the frame of my face, to glide back down each eye, balancing her elongated fingers on their tips. Midway through my second eye, my Nana’s hand stops. One eye closed, one open, I peer up to see both of hers glided into sleep. I whisper, Nana wake up and she continues drawing my face, opening her eyes like she was only resting them. I lean further into my Nana, only moving as she steadily breathes. Held to her body, her left arm wrapped around my belly, only moving when I breathe. She stops again, palm sprawled across my lips. I look up to her quiet face, distinct underneath cinnamon cranberry hair. I could sway my face, to alert her she has fallen asleep again, but I close my eyes too, falling asleep in my Nana’s arms.

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