They live to lie, and lies to live.

Humans that is. Deceptive creatures who hide everything, creating masks and wearing them without shame.

We watch as the man walks by, wearing his mask of leather. Strong and resilient hiding his humble status.

A young lady walks by, a wooden mask with a smile carved on it. A strong soul hiding her challenges, a secretive one.

Then there's him.

He holds his mask to his face, made of paper and sin. A boy neither loved nor hated by the world.

We watch as he walks through the streets, a spring in his step, one hand swinging from side to side. The other still holding on to his paper mask.

His pace increases at the telltales sign of rain, he hides away from even the slightest breeze, lurking in the shadows to stay away from people and their grabby hands.

The boy with the paper mask lives in constant fear.

We watch him closely, his fears and insecurities as transparent as his mask is under the bright sun. 'What a useless mask,' we mutter, our disdain making him cower.

He always comes back however, still determined to keep his mask with him. It's uncomfortable. Unnecessary.

What we didn't expect is for the rest to try and tear his mask away.

We watch as they surround him, their masks designed as predators. All of them selfishly hunting a single, helpless prey.

The mask is slipping.

The boy holds his mask so hard it crumples.

'Let it go', we advise him. He ignores us, tears wetting the thin paper.

'Let go of the mask', we force urgency into our voices, gaining his attention.

'The masks,' we speak slowly, 'are a shackle. You are slaves to your masks, to your true emotions. Your fragile paper mask doesn't make you weak, it makes you honest. It makes you free.'

Our voices get weaker with each word, but we push on. The boy's eyes are sparkling now. 'Let go of that mask.'

And so he does.

They all watch in mixture of horror and confusion as the paper masks flutters away through the wind, slipping away from their sights and gone forever.

The boy, a fair skinned, bright eyed lad looks like he's seeing the world for the first time. It is a beautiful sight.

"You bastard!" One man wearing a mask of steel dares to speak up. He raises his hand and hits the boy, easily bruising his paper-like, delicate skin.

Oh dear.

This simply cannot do.

We cannot ignore this any longer.