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James glanced at Lily grimacing at herself in the mirror, frowning at the reflection staring back at her. Although she held her head high around the corridors of Hogwarts- she did the opposite in the shadows. He noticed. He always noticed- every meal skipped, every moment studying herself in the mirror, every self-deprecating comment. He wanted her to know that it wasn't true. He wanted to tell her that she was beautiful. That she plagued his every thought and dream.
He wanted to hold her close- to hold her from jumping into the high waters. She was letting go, but no one knew. She would cry in the corner of the common room at ungodly hours, hoping no one would bear witness to every tear shed from her sparkling emerald eyes. They were a secret she wanted to keep. She was afraid to admit to others of these insecurities, to admit that she wasn't the golden one. She was tied together with a smile, but it was coming undone.
He heard her talking to Marlene, speaking of the love she wanted but never received from her sister. He could tell she tried to make up for it by giving away love like it was spare change. All she did was try to give her best friends her love, but they left it there to rust in the rain.
She just wanted to be accepted and loved- by her sister, Severus, and most of all; herself.