Shit, I think. It’s asking for an avatar, something to represent me… What do I pick?

A few thoughts cross my mind.

Maybe a squirrel.

Maybe a rat playing the trumpet.

Maybe a book ripped apart.

Maybe a paint-covered hand.

Hmm.

No, that all sucks. Screw it, I’ll just snap a photo and cut it down.

I click off a shot from my webcam, give it an awkward face.

Crop it small, since the site demands a small avatar…

There. A pair of eyes. My eyes.

They’re staring at me. I stare back.

I start to notice things.

Cover up the left side, I look sad.

Cover up the right side, I look excited.

A little creative glint in the eyes…

I can see my stubble… Should I have shaved before I snapped it? Nah, it’s fine.

But those eyes…

So penetrating. So analytical. So wild. So conflicting. They shift back and forth as I watch, their expression changing from fear to joy to sorrow to anger.

I stare at them long enough, it feels like they burn into my soul…

Perfect.

Click. There…

This is me, now.