The corners of her dry, cracked lips slowly turn up
forming a pitiful smile,
a painful smile,
a smile meant to
hide
months of suffering.
The rest of her world doesn’t see the obscured
misery,
remorse,
and utter agony
her soul is being put through.
He sees.
He understands.
He can see her eyes tear up from
the attempt
just to appear
okay.
But he doesn't know why.
Why she can't be happy.
He doesn't know what the world has done to her.
He remembers her
in first grade.
Happy.
Bright.
The most carefree girl in the world.
But now...
That is all gone. She
grew up. She found out that the
world is a tortured place.
“How are you?”
They all ask.
She gives a broken smile and lies.
“I'm fine”
I’m fine.
It’s the most common
deception
in her world.
Fine means many things to her.
Dead inside,
Broken,
Insecure,
Unsure,
and worst of all
scared,
okay.
