Charlatan
I am not what I appear to be.
Maybe you see a mother when you look at me. Loving and kind, firm and encouraging, exhausted and proud.
Or maybe you see a wife. Loyal friend, passionate partner.
Perhaps you even see a daughter, a granddaughter, or a grandmother.
But you’re wrong.
I am an imposter. Playing my role with dedication, determined to get every detail right. Determined to fool every last one of you.
One day, I will break free. Shed the obligations, break the rules, and leap.
Until then, I will appear to be exactly what you see.
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This is my submission for this week’s Trifecta writing challenge. The word this week is appear and the third definition is:
3: to have an outward aspect : seem <appears happy enough>
Here are the rules:
- Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
- You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
- The word itself needs to be included in your response.
- You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
- Only one entry per writer.
- Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us.
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Image credit: WritersCafe.org
Apoplectic Apostrophes 
I enjoyed this very much… if I let my imagination runs away with it, your piece seems very cloak and dagger!
Why thank you Lane! I was definitely going for a hint of something dark and/or mysterious.
You know what you are? A damn fine actress that’s what! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Joe! 😀
Suzanne, I love the image of the gold mask you used to go along with your poetic piece. We play many parts in life, all of them, no matter how good an “act” are still a part of who we are. Without the ability to see/portray the person we play, we would not know what is expected. The difference that I see, is some are better at multiplicity than others. Nicely written.
I know — that image is perfect, isn’t it? Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
Great title, great piece. Keeping up appearances to get what we need.. until we have it, and then.. who can say. I wonder about this probably more often than I ought to. Are people really who they seem to be?
Thanks Steph! Aren’t writers supposed to think about things like that? If not, I’m doing it all wrong! 😉
I think a lot of us feel this, at least a little, at least sometimes. Thanks for linking up.
I think you are probably right. Thanks for commenting!
But then you’re just however we perceive you, aren’t you? Very thoughtful piece (:
Good point. Perception is in the eye of the beholder, after all. Thanks Draug!
How mysterious. It makes me wonder how many people I know that I don’t really know. To some extent, I think we all attempt to appear like we have “it” together, even when it feels like we don’t
I agree. Though some days it’s easier to appear to have “it” together than others! Thanks for commenting Janna!
A friend once said that we are all pretending a little (at least). This was wonderfully written and rings true.
Thank you so much Gina! 🙂
What a thoughtful piece. The question is: who are we when we take off that mask and look in the mirror? “Determined to fool every last one of you” is priceless. Excellent writing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for such a fabulous comment Diane!
So many roles to play in life, so many ruts to fall into, so many expectations to fend off. As always, your writing is lovely. This piece really spoke to me.
Thank you so much Jo-Anne! 🙂
Ah, dreams never run dry…! A very intriguing piece, I must say, with a myriad of emotions hidden behind it.
I hope not — I don’t think I could go on if my dreams ran dry. Thanks for commenting Pirate!
Someone once told me that life is a theatre and we are all playing a role. This piece really spoke to me as I often dream of ‘breaking free’, although I am not sure I’ll ever figure out where my roles end and the real ‘me’ begins…
It’s an eternal struggle I think. And probably changes over time too. Thank you so much for your comment Lena!
Oh, that yearning to leap that never goes away! And you know that grandmother is still gonna wanna leap.
Also, terrific descriptions of the “false” selves.
So true. Thanks Kymm!
Totally open ended… I love it, — serial killer, vampire, werewolf or just mistress to the President… anything is possible.
“anything is possible” — I love that! All the mysteries that lie inside each person’s true self… Thanks for commenting Björn!
I think I understand this. ”… shed the obligations …”
🙂 Thanks for commenting!
At this very moment in time, this hit me like a prose laden punch. So many facets of a single person, filling required roles even when sometimes you just want to beat feet and be yourself with no labels. Loved this.
“prose laden punch” — that’s fabulous! Imagine a label-free existence… Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂