We all wear them
The innocent ******* the playground, her life ahead of her
The old woman in line at the grocery store, waiting for life to end
The teenager walking down the street, lost in the jungle of the world
We pretend not to see
But the masks are always there
Always on
Always

Hers is her smile
When she sees her friends in the halls
After binging and purging yet again
Even though she said she would stop
Because when she looks in the mirror
She despises the thing looking back at her

His is his resounding laugh
Full of joy and light
When his beautiful children step off of the school bus
The children he created with his wife
The woman he loves
Who has given her love to another

Maybe yours is your friendly wave
Your witty comment
Your playful conversation
Or maybe it’s as simple as saying “I’m fine”
When you are not

We all wear the masks
Because everyone is in pain
But we are happier unaware