As She Bled In Silence Poem by Jennifer Kenneally

I used to think I was the only one
bleeding in silence
while everyone else's wounds were long healed
until I truly saw her.

I noticed when she smiled,
her eyes were elsewhere
and when looking closely at them
you could see the storm
threatening just behind the surface
I noticed underneath
like fresh bruises upon her skin
lay the dark circles from sleepless nights.

I noticed when she gets lost and tangled inside her own head,
she stills.fulfilling an empty gaze.
watching her, I wondered
where she escaped to
or if she were perhaps being captured by misleading fantasies
engulfing her mind with its deceit.

as I patiently wait
until she finds her way back
I observe her chin resting on her palm
the sleeve betraying her
as I then notice a series of scars
scattered along her wrist.

how did no one else seem to notice?
how could everyone not see
she was bleeding.
her veil of tranquility
may have reassured the rest,
but catching glimpses of
what was past the deception,
I could practically feel her
screaming in the darkness
as she bled in silence.