The Mask Unveiled

Concealed behind the mask I wear,

Is me, dwelling in sadness and despair.

Unbreakable chains–they bind me,

Growing stronger; they never stop tightening–

My knees trembling, almost giving in,

A battle I fight but will never win.

Weighted around my life is an anchor, sinking deeply,

Carrying the mass of my unending misery.

My mind and heart are weakening–

Beating nothing but heartache;

Nearly collapsing from the pressure of mistake,

Nearly shattering from the grasp of sorrow,

Already suffering from the absence of care–hollow.

As I attempt to withhold my tears–

Held away from the judgment that I fear–

I, instead, drown in my own anguish,

Slowly descending into the depths of agony.

Becoming consumed, no longer myself,

My body hits the bottom–I’m too far gone.

In desperation, I reach my hand for help,

But everyone’s heads were already turned away.

Please, someone help me; I can't breathe,

Silence answers, so I wear a mask to hide my grief.

I feel that I need the mask to survive,

But beneath it, I feel barely alive,

Suffocating in emptiness, I’m dead inside.

Already drained of the life in me–

A cage from which I cannot break free.

I’m a prisoner of my own design,

Trapped behind this guise of mine.

As I stare into the void of eternal darkness,

I begin to realize I have lost all hope–

I wish it would all end, granted happiness,

But as the last drop of joy bleeds from me,

I put on this mask and act as if I’m happy.