Before and After

The pictures amaze. Before:
belly dragging, jowls with zip codes,
slabs of fat. After:
Chiseled abs and movie star cheekbones.

The stories amaze. Before:
Depressed and dopey, poor and stupid,
alone and miserable. After:
Belle of the ball. Startling in your perfection,
admired by others, and even yourself.

Untold is the story. The failures. The struggles.
The self loathing. The surrenders.
the path, shaky and unsure,
completely lacking in glamour or appeal,
the real miracle,
one tentative step at a time.