I had a flashback, so I’m writing it out by writing a letter.
To: Everybody whom has ever asked me to smile.
Please don’t ask me to smile. I hate it.
When I was little, I had to do things and I cried when I did those things. Now they couldn’t have that. I must smile. Even if I didn’t feel like it, I must smile. They put their thumbs in my mouth and stretched my cheeks so far it stung and they put duck tape on my cheeks so that I was always smiling even though I was crying. I shut my eyes so I couldn’t “hear” or see them. They made me keep my eyes open when they put some tape on my lids so they stay open. Now I’m a good little girl. I’m naked and they do it to me. I was finally a “good little girl” because I had to learn to smile for the camera.
So, please, when I do not feel like smiling, don’t tell me “oh come on, you’ll feel better if you smile.” I just don’t like it a bit. Now maybe you’ll see why it offends me so much being asked to smile. I will smile only when I feel like it.
Regards-
Tishia Chambers
