Imagine the most ugly creature and your mind will jump to the things of nightmares.

The alien, the demon or the monster under your childhood bed.

But none of those scare me.

The ugliest creature lives inside me.

It claws at the concept of who I believe I am.

It tells me I’m not good enough.

Not strong enough.

Not enough for my friends and family.

Never enough.

It is my inner critic and it is cruel.

Moments of bliss have whispers of defeat. Moments of beauty are shaded grey.

And when I can’t sleep - that is when it is the most loud.

It is repulsive.

It is hideous.

It is me.