“I’m fine,” I’ll say.
And I’ll lie to your face and smile and act like
I’m okay
But I am not okay

“Nothing’s wrong,” I’ll tell you
And I will assure you that I am emotionally stable
That my tears are not threatening to spill from the surface
But they are

Because there are some wounds that Band-Aids cannot heal
And pain that ibuprofen cannot suppress

There are monsters inside of me
That even my bones cannot protect me from

*But I am okay.
I am okay.