Before she’s married,
she books an appointment at Ruby’s
to see how their wedding makeup looks
After all,
she is the bride.
the bride!
At Ruby’s
the red salon chair is red and squeaky
and has a sticky splotch of wax.
She shifts half of her behind eversoslightly
while the makeup technician
says for the makeup trial
We only do half a face.
When we offered a full face
brides would come in on their wedding day
take advantage and use that same makeup
for their wedding.
And even though she tells them
Today is not my wedding
they still insist on half a face of makeup.
The technician puts foundation on half a forehead
blush on one cheek.
For her lips the technician acquiesces
paints the whole mouth
and for eyeliner she traces one eye.
For mascara she does a top and bottom coating technique.
She’s never seen her lashes on her right eye better.
Then the technician moves over to the other eye
and she is so mad but she couldn't help
opening her ruby mouth
saying Oh I get the other eye too?
The technician tut tuts no I forgot
caps the eyeliner back on.
And in the mirror she has to tilt her face
One half
to see what exactly she may look like on her wedding day
and if that’s not a metaphor for marriage then what is
that when you get married
you may be fuller
but also may be lesser,
Half a face to be exact.
I love this.
Beautiful writing, Reem!❤️