This Is Us
We’re All Quarantining With the Cool Girl
I always wanted to be her, but now I’m not so sure
When I think about The Before, I see myself getting ready to go out. I’m sitting at my desk, in front of my mirror, with a glass of Trader Joe’s rosé to my right. I’m freshly showered, shaved, and moisturized. I’ve applied various hair products and blow-dried my curls. I hurriedly did my nails before showering (always black), so they’re a little smudged. I’m doing my makeup now, hoping that I’ll get my eyeliner right on the first try.
Then I’m picking out my outfit: miniskirt, sheer blouse with a lacy black bra underneath, black boots. I relish in this whole process: It feels luxurious and is full of excitement. I’m an actress in her dressing room, putting on her mask, preparing for her performance of The Cool Girl.
You know The Cool Girl. No, not the one Gillian Flynn wrote about. The one you see everywhere: on Instagram, on the homepage of your favorite clothing store, on the street. She’s the girl who doesn’t care if she looks cool while she dances, who orders gin and tonics without worrying how much money is in her bank account, who crowds into photo booths with her friends and looks good in every frame. I’m getting excited just thinking about it, about the possibility of being her.
