Sitting here with my head in my hands

Getting pumped from my favourite bands

About to go out and have some "fun"

But as everyone knows, I am not the one

My friends do not know it, they cannot tell

That alone I am living my own little hell

My mask is still in place, strong and intact

But the sides lately, they seem to contract

It's starting to squeeze, suffocating me

Squeezes hard sometimes, I can barely see

Often cannot breathe, I cannot even speak

But I cannot pry it off, for fear I am too weak

I simply cannot let them see beneath the mask

Although keeping it up can be a grueling task

I must portray that I am happy, carefree

I promised myself; no one will see

But I see some looking closely

See a crack, a line, a scratch mostly

I pray that their eyes cannot penetrate

To see that inside, I am filled with such hate

I will keep this mask on until death

With that vow, I take an encouraging breath

I walk out the door to be with my friends

Still hoping someday my misery ends