Even to my own ears my voice sounds false
Lies scrape against my teeth.
A fake smile distorts my mouth.
“I’m fine”
I try to sound reassuring,
but end up robotic...hollow, empty.
The emptiness hurts more than the pain.
Nothingness aches in my chest.
Silence screams in my ears,
drowning my thoughts.
“No really, don’t worry”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, it’s just a headache...”
in my heart.
I throw in another painful smile for good measure.
Am I as transparent as I feel?
Their concerned faces cut through me.
Surely they can see my lies.
They can see the tears bleeding from my eyes.
It hurts to breathe.
It hurts to think.
To listen, to see, to live.
So why do it?