Five minutes until curtain call,

My guise is replaced,

A facade of calm,

A lie within itself.

My posture is exquisite,

My smile convinces,

That is a girl, they say,

Who’s never had a care in her life.

No one wants to see me cry,

So I don’t let them,

I hide backstage in my head,

Bawling in the scenery.

I’m an actor, playing too many roles,

The perfect daughter,

The perfect friend,

It doesn’t matter, just stay perfect.

I really try, but I’m not perfect,

Not like some of the others,

But you can’t see that,

I won’t let you.

It’s time to prove myself again,

Prove I’m fine,

Nothing is wrong with me,

I promise, let me show you.

The curtains behind my eyes close,

And you would never know,

That behind the scenes,

I was falling apart.