I Am Ugly
I am ugly…
Not in the face but in the skin.
I am ugly…
Not in the way I smile but in the way I think of how I look.
I am ugly…
Because all these annoying negative thoughts are telling me that I am not beautiful.
That these red little bumps appearing on my skin define me.
I am ugly…
The truth is I am not.
I am ugly…
The truth is my thoughts are.
I am ugly…
Look in the mirror…
My thoughts are ugly.
Gina Nguyen is a Vietnamese author based in Aotearoa New Zealand. She was first published in issue 46 of the Blackmail Press with her piece, The Ever-Changing Home. Following this piece she wrote an article for The Fashion Stock Market, about Sydney brand SKEETS, titled, How Spray Paint, Old Jeans, and, A Background In Dance Created A Brand. Her latest piece I Am Ugly was written in 2020 about her eczema. Aside from writing, Gina is currently attempting to read 35 books this year.
