She hid behind a shiny smile
showing the world what they wanted to see
but always a prisoner inside her own body
chained to blood and bones

It won her praise
and it won her glory
Roses bloomed around her
while her soul withered inside

All the sparkly things lost their sparkle
when she stopped writing her own story
It was then in the moment of frailty
she realized she left herself behind somewhere along the way

The porcelain cracked and a brave woman broke through
stitching her heart and emptying her mind
of the stranger that had taken over
and the pain that had sustained

Beginning again vulnerable and naked
trembling with both excitement and fear
Praying that the world would accept her
as she introduced that girl that had been hidden for so long

Stones were thrown
and enemies crawled out of their alleys
attempting to drag her down
and crush her new found dreams

But a force field of love and acceptance
from those special souls that always knew who she was
carried her on it's shoulders
not allowing her to lay back down

A garden of confidence and self-love grew inside her
A hero was reborn
and so was the jolly
that had died with her long ago

Her smile is authentic now
and it shines brighter than ever before
A natural light that heals all who
are illuminated in it's glowing path

Merry songs escape her lips
and effervescent words flow from
her fingertips to the blank paper
as roses bloom inside of her

She's a prisoner no more.