It was two in the morning.
I saw a person in my life clearly.
I started reading her.

She operates from a place of contempt.
A part of her knows herself to be above others —
in intellect, in knowledge.
A kind of native knowing she was born with.
It gives her a certain contempt for those around her.
She speaks dismissively,
banishing the concerns of others.

I let the insights through,
recognizing them to be momentous.
Then the mirror turned back on me.
That same light shined on me.
Ohmygod. Projection.
Am I seeing this aspect of me in her?
I am.

There it is, in all truth.
I just described myself.
It is so insidious.
I look at my actions with my loved ones
and see it in full play.

All this while, I thought I was humble.
I have this insidious pride in me
and did not even know it.