his hair was like sunshine;
his soul hummed like a hummingbird.

he emitted a radiance;
that would make anyone cheery.

his smile was beaming;
and bring everyone to his side.

but every flower wilts when neglected;
and he was no different from a flower.

his heart shattered by every encounter;
by every person.

on his face is that wide smile;
but deep inside there is no room for that warmth.

yet his soul does hum like the hummingbird;
there is also the underlying hum of a bee and its stinger.

every night he fights off the monsters;
hiding beneath his skin.

and every night he gets closer and closer to losing;
every battle he is in.

no one is there to cradle him;
no one is there to wake him.

he wants to sleep;
but he is scared to sleep.

he wants to be saved;
but no one will hear his screams.

all they see is his smile;
but never look under the surface.

now he writhes on the floor;
reaching for what is left of his sanity.

but nothing was there...

he sees no way out;
but one.

sleep, oh sleep;
is all the hope he has left.

the final sleep;
that could give him peace.