Hidden Inside

The Mask She Wears

"I'm fine," she said with a wilting smile. 

"Just tired," another phrase so common left her lips.

"I'm doing alright. How are you today?" She offered with the plastered look she had come to perfect. It was something she had gotten too used to after so many years. 

"I told you I'm fine." She offered, but this time she was cracking, the marbling was crumbling, and those around her were the ones who knew how to see through it. Most would let it slide, but these people knew better. 

"Bullshit." 

"Really, I'm just tired," she offered weakly. 

"Take the mask off when you speak to me-" he glared at her while the others watched the scene in play out- "I know you better than that."  

"I'm really am just tired. Tired of existing. I'm not fine. I can't keep going like this. I'm trapped. I don't want to die, but I don't want to be alive. I just want to stop existing until it stops hurting," She cried as she pulled into herself finally giving into the ones who would stick around to help pick up her broken pieces. Those around her gripped her tight as they worried what would happen if they let go. Would she even be there anymore?