Pretty?

You're so much more than a word you're killing yourself for.

I'm sorry.

No you are not pretty. You are nowhere close to pretty. You are out of your mind if you ever think you deserved the title pretty. You are nothing close to that adjective, honey.

"She's not even pretty" He said, she said, they all said. And they are right, damn straight.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry you think you're pretty when you're really not. I'm sorry you had to put yourself so low because of the word pretty.

I'm sorry because that word is such an understatement.

That word has been grappled over by women everywhere, Competed and fought for like a crown of victory. But it's really not.

Pretty is nowhere near your eyes that keep the entire universe inside, that holds all the stars that glitter at night. That erupts a brand new color when hazel and amber kissed.

Pretty is not what defines your smile. For if Helen's face can launch a thousand ships to sea, Your smile can and should bring them all to their knees, Competing for a place beside you, as if it's royalty. Tell me, what is pretty compared to a mere smile of pure natural beauty?

Pretty is nowhere close to your heart. Your heart that bursts like a firework at night, that soars like an eagle in majestic flight. That when love swallows your heart it emits from your entire body, You embrace the feeling and project it wholly. Your heart is big and almost the whole world can fit inside it, Giving enough amount of love for everyone to share.

Published in a column of the opinion section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pretty is nothing compared to your cerebrum. And god, how amazing are the things you keep inside your head. Your ideas, your works, your thoughts and everything that defies the most brilliant of the brilliant. Your empowered psyche that overwhelms them completely.

Pretty is nothing compared to your beautiful soul. Your saturated evening sky spirit. Your poetic being.

Pretty is nothing compared to your resilience, your bravery, your wit, your skills.

You're so much more than a word that you are killing yourself for but I'm really sorry because darling, you are not pretty.