Necker Island, March 2014 Today, my bruises ache.  Standing in the mirror, sporting black bra and underwear with white stars, I stare at my legs.  The fronts glow gold and tan.  The backs throb, bruised in deep purple welts from hip to knees.   I crane my neck to see my backside.  I see them, my bruises, and my eyes rim wet. I pull out brown-black eyeliner.  I fix my eyes, run a quick blow dryer over my hair .  It’s bleached gold on the ends from my week on the beach.  I stretch an aqua skirt around my legs careful and wide.  Like stepping into a hula hoop. I feel the sting up the back of my legs and my spine jarred out of place. Outside, my husband John knocks at the door of the Tahitian style hut we are staying in. “You coming hon? Are you ready?” Sitting at the edge of the bed, I reach over to put on my flip flops. My legs reflect back to me in the full length mirror, two black and blue half slabs of meat. Trapped on this island, I have nowhere to hide.  I can put on a maxi dress instead of this skirt.  I know even that won’t hide my bruises. In March of … Continue reading My Leap of Faith on Necker Island