'Lipstick' by Sarah Freligh

We learned to paint our mouths kissable, but were taught not to. By the parish priest, by our mothers, by Seventeen magazine. Never on the first date, never more than one boy at a time, never below the neck. We practiced on the mirror and at slumber parties. When boys scratched on the window, we giggled and shivered. Only Lana slipped out, came back smeared and tight-lipped, full up with stories she wouldn’t tell us. At school on Monday, we lipsticked the mirror in the third-floor girl’s room: LANA SUCKS. Later we all learned. Later we all did it.

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Sarah Freligh is the author of eight books, including HEREAFTER, winner of the 2024 Bath Novella-in-Flash contest, and OTHER EMERGENCIES (Moon City Press, 2025).

'Lipstick' was first published in 100-Word Story in 2021.