Short Stories + Contest Entries

Take Off The Mask

Not a story, but more of a realization that I'd like to discuss. For anyone who might need to hear this, I dedicate this to you.

Why do people live behind a mask?

You think you know someone after a year or two and suddenly one day everything changes. Little by little the pieces of their mask fall off. Yet you convince yourself it's fine. They're comfortable around you. This is a good sign.

Right?

It's not until everything is laid out on the table. You clearly see who they are, on the inside. What they were hiding, who they were pretending to be. Intentional or not, that person isn't the same. Now what's left, the face of a person you used to know. Someone you used to love, but don't anymore. This person wears the face of a person you care for but acts like a stranger.

So you confront them, and you're greeted with laughter, mockery, and guilt.

Whether it's a friend, family member or a significant other, let me be the first to tell you, if someone laughs at your feelings and belittles your emotions, they don't care about you and they don't love you. Or really, they do not know what love is. You shouldn't feel ashamed to talk about something that hurts you or be scared to cry in front of someone you care deeply about.

So imagine my surprise, when after all this time drowning in greetings filled with love and compassion, I'm suddenly face to face with a brick wall of nothingness. Empty, plain, and solid. But most importantly, the truth. The reality I couldn't bear to look dead in the eyes.

And then for me to announce the problem and demand action! How female of me! How crazy! I'm deranged for even thinking of it! How dare I try and communicate and fix problems like a normal person!

Clearly, I must be out of my mind.

I guess the best people are...

But a major lesson I've learned is if they can't take you seriously, they don't deserve you. So I promise you, you're better off without them.

A wise person once said, "not everyone's your friend". I'm starting to see now exactly what they mean. One of the hardest things to do is emptying yourself of people you care about. The memories of good days and fun times keep you holding on. It's the reason you stand your ground. You wish for those days back. You don't give up easily, because nothing in life comes without hardship.

But like the leaves falling off a tree, they can't be stitched back together. There's no do-over and there's no chance of a rebirth. Not for those leaves. They're long gone. Not after showing their true colors wilt to brown and gray. Still, there is a chance to grow, to sprout leaves again. On your own.

See, the most challenging task that anyone may face is finding the courage to pick yourself up and be the light you're looking for. To stand on your two feet and stop finding an escape in everyone else.

Say you matter, to yourself.

Say you're worth it, to yourself.

Be a friend, to yourself.

Through thick and thin, and storms of hell, one thing will remain; you'll always have yourself.

So don't live behind that mask, and don't fall for the mask everyone else has on. Because truth be told, no one knows what the hell they're doing. We do what we see, and we listen to the norm. But there's a price to being a carbon copy of everyone else; lack of mind and uniqueness.

It's better to live in truth and stick by who you are rather than try to please everyone else.

Please yourself, your opinion matters.

And if someone tries to knock you down, pick yourself back up. Don't wait for someone to save you. It's time we learn that we need to save ourselves. We should not expect a superhero to rescue us, and being in a relationship doesn't mean they're supposed to repair you. Love is an addition, not a solution to fixing who you are.