People see what you want
them to see.
Ashamed of their history.
Hurt by their pasts.
Guarding themselves,
they put on masks-
to hide their true selves,
to hide their shame,
to protect themselves
from any
negative attention.
They post happy pictures
and statuses online.
Their Instas and Snaps
show elaborately fake perfection.
Why do we feel obligated
to share a lie?
I'm guilty as well.
I strive not to be,
yet I do put up a front
so people don't see
how I'm falling apart
behind the scenes.
My story is redacted,
my moments contrived.
Happy smiles,
upbeat conversations.
Meanwhile I feel like
I'm dying inside.
My fragmented story,
as I let people see it,
tells only half truths
because
the girl behind the mask is
mortified,
embarrassed,
and depressed.
To those I let see
the real me, it means
I'm most comfortable
with you.
You may never even
realize it,
just like those
who don't see the genuine me
don't realize they are
interacting with a facade.
I hope you do though.
And I hope you know
how special you are to me.
-MS
