Far from a bad habit

A self portrait taken in 2005

MY face is feeling less than smooth these days. The haze is congesting my skin, leaving tiny blemishes on my cheeks. I run my fingertips across them, feel a little bothered, then block out the thoughts and carry on with whatever I am doing. It may all seem inconsequential, but there is a story bigger here.

It all started on one uneventful day when I was 13 years old. My elder sister asked me to sit in front of her. She gave my nose a little pinch between her thumbs, and showed me what was left behind on her thumb.