Stars Across My Chest

When I was little I used to think I had stars on my skin. I would show everyone the freckles streaking across my chest, telling them it was the little dipper.

I would get so excited and pull my shirt down to show everyone. Everyone needed to know that the stars had touched me, that I had constellations on my skin.

I’ll never forget the day someone yelled at me for showing off my stars. She slapped my hand, scolded me, “Don’t do that!”. But I didn’t know it was because she was worried about who was looking, I just thought it was because I wasn’t special.

I still think I have stars on my skin, but I haven’t shared them with anyone in years.