I AM FINE
My cheeks have started to hurt
from the smiles I wear all day,
trying to hide the cuts and scars
that threaten to peek out, every time.
Someone asks me how I'm doing.
My eyes have grown tired of holding
all the secrets inside,
ready to spill out every piece of
the scattered mess that I am,
as tears or blood, when I run
out of my "I'm fine" lies, someday.
Everyday I hope for someone to
pull my mask away, and stare
right at the core, where I sit
curled up into a ball, in the corner
of my mind, trying to get away
from my own thoughts and feelings.
Everyday, I hope for someone to
tear through the pretense around me,
find me inside, hold my hand and,
take me away, to some place far.
but every night, when I'm still there, alone,
I hug myself, cradle my soul, and
go back to sleep, with the screams
and shrieks as my lullabies.
© Summiaya Nilofer Kichloo
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