Mask

Something for those of us that grew up too quickly

We hide behind a smile.

We hide behind a laugh.

We hide behind kind words.

We hide behind a mask.

Behind our mask is a tired, scared, and distrusting child.

Behind our mask is a child who has been betrayed one too many times at a young age.

Behind our mask is a child who has experienced much, but hasn’t seen far.

Behind our mask, we are human.

We ask ourselves: why is life difficult?

We ask ourselves: is it because we have yet to find ourselves?

We ask ourselves: how long do we have to be strong for everybody?

We ask ourselves: but why? But how?

For a long time, we have known that we are different.

Introverted. A dreamer. Displaced.

For a long time, we have wanted to validate our existence.

To not feel numb.

No, we are not depressed.

This is who we are. This is how we think.

This is how we grew up.

Open-minded.

Experienced, yet we haven’t seen it all.

They call us geniuses, yet we know nothing.

We feel as if we are wingless birds trapped within a cage.

Trapped within a trap.

We wish to escape…

We wish to fly…

We wish to feel the wind in our wings…

We wish to breathe a relieved sigh.

But why? But how?

Behind our mask, we are only human.