Once upon a time,
there lived a happy girl.
She smiled at all
and brought joy to the world.

But then she got older
and chemicals reacted in her mind.
The dark thoughts that plagued her
made it hard to be kind.

She still wore a smile,
but that smile was just for show.
The feelings locked inside her
continued to fester and grow.

She stayed in her tower
and vowed never to come down.
Who could ever love a girl
whose smile wore a frown?

Doomed to live in her own gloom
and sure she should be alone,
she sat in silence and in darkness
even when around her bright lights shone.

Sometimes she thinks she really should
get up and join the fray once more,
but the energy it takes to do so
keeps her rooted to the floor.

She wishes she were surrounded by dragons
so that a handsome knight in armor
would steadfastly slay them,
for that would be simpler.

Who knows how to save a girl
from herself?

Surely not her.