The brightest smile can hide a war,
A quiet room, a locked-up door.
It isn't always tears and gray;
Sometimes it's laughing through the day,
Performing parts to keep the peace,
While waiting for the noise to cease.
It grows in whispers in the hall
The bullying that makes them small
The cruel words that stick like ink
And change the way a mind can think.
It's staring at a mirrored glass,
Praying for the body image to pass,
Feeling "wrong" in skin and bone,
Surrounded, yet entirely alone
It's heavy shoulders, tired eyes
Beneath a thousand clever disguises.
The "strong" friend might be wearing thin,
Fighting battles deep within,
Where every "I'm fine" is a plea,
For someone to truly, deeply see.
So let's reach across the silent space.
Look past the grin upon their face.
A simple text, a steady hand,
A heart that tries to understand.
Don't wait for the signs to start to show;
For you never know what's down below.
Check on your friends, be light, be near -
Before the silence is all you hear.