Was it last night?.... Standing in front of the mirror and quietly looking at my face, I felt my heart sink. ㅠㅠ

With my hair tied back, standing under the bathroom light, I suddenly felt that my jawline has slightly dropped compared to before.

"Oh? In that moment, one side of my heart felt like it was slowly fading away.

In the past, when I took selfies, my chin was sharp, but these days, it takes me longer to find the right camera angle, and when I open the photo app, I unconsciously look for filters first.

It's not a huge deal that my face has gotten fuller, but surprisingly, it shook me more than I expected.

That moment when I notice a change that others might not feel.

When I smile, my cheeks don't look nice, or the laugh lines that were once invisible now clearly show over my makeup.

Of course, I know that aging is a natural process, but still, I can't help but feel a bit sad.

I always thought my face would remain unchanged, but now, even a bowl of black bean noodles eaten out of exhaustion shows on my face, making me feel vulnerable.

Especially these days, it feels like not only my facial fat is sagging, but my spirit is crumbling too. I used to be full of confidence over small things, and I had more hopes than worries about the future, but these days, on some days, I feel empty for no reason, and I want to ask the person in the mirror, "Am I okay?"

Sometimes, just like my slightly drooping eyelids, my energy feels like it's sagging too. But when I think about it, the sagging of my face isn't all bad. It reflects a softer life than before.

In my twenties, I lived under the pressure of holding onto everything tightly, needing to be prettier and slimmer, and feeling like I had to achieve something. Now, I've become a bit more relaxed. I've experienced failures, wounds, and letting go of love, and I've also nurtured new hopes. When I think that all those emotions have left traces on my face, it strangely warms me up.

Still, on some days, my heart crumbles harder. On days when makeup doesn't cover up, on tired days, or when I take a photo and the result isn't what I hoped for.

"Oh, I'm getting old..." that thought escapes like a sigh.

But behind that sigh comes a strange determination. "Still, should I try to age more beautifully?" Exercising a bit more, applying moisturizer carefully, drinking plenty of water. It feels like a small ritual to lift my body and spirit again.

Today, I also thought while looking in the mirror. This sagging facial fat might not be making me weak, but could be a process that makes me stronger.

Aging might mean crumbling a bit, letting go a bit, and instead becoming someone who can embrace more.