There are people all around.
Familiar faces,
Laughs.
You pretend you're okay.
You Laugh,
Smile,
Take pictures--
But they know.
They know you're hurting,
You're breaking.
Although you're surrounded
You feel utterly alone.

In a time of great need
Your best friend leaves.
In a time of need
Your love is gone.
You reach out for something--
Anything--
To break that fall.
But you fall,
And fall,
And keep falling.
Until you land
Flat on your face.

The pain--
At first,
It's like when you put your hand
On something hot.
You know it should hurt,
But you can't feel it yet.
You're so shocked you just stare
You can't believe it's happening.
Then it comes,
And all you want to do is scream
Scream as loud as you can
Make it go away.
Scream for help.

They come running.
They put a bandage on it.
Say you'll forget it by the time you're married.
But it's there.
Always there.
It takes a while to heal.
It itches.
Burns.

You pick at it,
And it's fresh blood
All over again.
The pain is back
Like it never left.
It heals faster this time,
But it still itches--
Still burns.
When it's finally healed,
It's scarred.
Forever burned,
Forever impaired.