Smile

Smile
I remember my baby teeth.
They were so mouse-like, white and perfect.
My mother was aggressive
Literally brushing my teeth for me.
As one of my private rebellions, I seldomly brushed them.
Then the Periodontitis came
And the Halitosis
And the Tooth-Decay.
I will never forget the day
When part of my actual gums torn off from gingivitis, at the tender age of twelve.
From then on, I brushed my teeth with a feverish passion
Slowly, the pale yellow teeth and purple gums
Faded into slightly hygienic milk-white teeth and red-pink gumilne.
I kept my facial expressions blank and mostly my mouth shut though the years
Because there a possibly anyone might see my Hideous secret.
I still regret cheating myself out of my Smile.