redefined

she calls it independence
and there was a time i would have agreed

skimming the surface of her story
the tale rang true enough
each mirror purposefully placed
every wisp of smoke strategically swirling
her lines were learned long ago

and practiced perfect
year after year
leaking from her lips like breath
so indelibly ingrained and religiously repeated
she began to believe them herself

satisfied in her self-sufficiency
contentedly commitment free
her pre-planned path panned out before her
straight and solitary, she was strong
and had no need for anyone at all

but gradually i glimpsed the truth
in the small signs she swore didn't show
the underlying uncertainty
the flickering fear
and the layers of longing that sometimes shine through

because despite her denials
deep down inside
the last thing in the world she wants
is a future filled with the half-hearted happiness 
of a life lived alone 

she still calls it independence
but this time, she's not even fooling herself