The Masks You Wear Poem by Sarah Hollis

You ran away from your home because you didn't want to be who they expected you to be.

You haven't told them who you love or what you are because you live in fear that they will judge you, even when they are the ones who were never there for you.

You keep travelling to find yourself yet remain as lost as the day that you left home.

You are always reading on how to love yourself, yet you still remain the same broken girl you were back home.

You wake up each morning and tell yourself that you are worthy, loved and accepted but still consistently live in fear.

You see others believe what you tell them about yourself, so you tell yourself it must be then true.

I knew you wore two masks, one for those back home, and another for those who you hope here won't judge the version you show them today.

You let your guard down and you showed me your true self.

And when I asked why did you hurt me the way you did. You denied it and vanished from my life and shamed my name with our friends.

And you go on with your life, reading your books and being grateful for the life you say is a blessed one.