Creativity Quest Prompt for 4/4

Today's prompt is: what's something that's made you feel like yourself lately? I had a weird run-in with myself in an Old Navy dressing room recently. Before I took my work trip, I realized I really didn't have any office-ready clothes, and since I am rarely there, just decided to grab a pair of the pants I always get at ON for ease and $. I'm trying a new form of exposure therapy on myself by trying on clothes that I would normally avoid for being "too much;" too bright, "unflattering" shapes and patterns, anything that might call attention to myself and force me to be perceived.

So, I grabbed a few things I would have avoided in the past and took them in the fitting room with me to try. There was a brief moment where I saw Beth-from-the-before-times and it freaked me out so much. I sat on the bench and cried. I genuinely don't know how to explain the rush of grief but also happiness to see something behind my eyes. I talk about "doll eyes" a lot - the fact that my eyes look lifeless and have since I got sick. But I saw a glimmer that day, and I was just struck with a sort of CGI, Industrial Lights and Magic level current of emotions between then me and now me, what we've experienced, what l'd tell her and what she'd tell me - and I genuinely didn't expect that from going to buy a pair of Extra High-Waisted Polished Pixie Skinny Pants.