They Love You

A Sun shiny smile

Match glistening eyes

Bright and ready for the day

No, don't shy away

 

A golden halo floats

Above her head

Everyone adores

They love her

 

So happy, so bouncey

So caring and warm

So kind, so nice

Doesn't think twice

If she can help someone she will

 

Selflessness for selfishness

To keep her halo from slipping

Further down her neck

 

The moment her smile fades

Her mask cracks

"You're not aloud"

Feelings kept away

 

"But they love you"

Over and over

"They love you!

You come from a good family

You were never hurt

And they love you"

Never hurt
Not physically, at least
While she tries to quell
The oceans of madness in her head
Trying to not be dead

Over and over

"You can't feel that way"

Be happy, don't stray

Pulling her face into a perpetually painful

Expressions of doubt not aloud

 

She thinks she's been lying to herself

When she says she's happy

"You're fine"

They say

Her lies have convinced them

If she keeps telling them

Maybe she can convince herself, too

 

She's happy

She's fine

She's ok

She's not broken

She can still feel

All the pain they inflict without knowing

It's a trick

Cuz when she was down

She was kicked

 

Get back up

Pick up the mask

Never leave the smile behind

Because they love you

But not enough to love you fully

 

Maybe she'll talk about it

She thinks

Maybe that would help

Except when she does

She's told they don't exist

So she can't feel like this

 

It's made up

All in her head

Like threads tethering the corners of her mouth

Up to her ears

Blind them to the tears

She can't stop

 

She can't explain why she's like this

"They love you"

That should be enough

"But they love you"

But that's all they can do

 

Afraid of herself

Because she can't explain

Sections of her brain

So dark and cold and she doesn't dare

Try to go there

"But you're so loved"

Because they'll never know...

How the shadows grow

In the back of her skull

Trying to make her halo dull

How dare they...

Think they can keep this away

Just because they love her

 

 

"But they love you"

They say again

Stapling the mask back together

"They love you

You're talented and sweet

And they love you"

While her monsters grew

 

"So caring and warm"

While her thoughts, they swarm

And she wonders when she'll love herself

As much as they love her

 

Best bits pulled out

Put forward

Displayed

All out for everyone to see

And the rest kept locked up

Kept back and hidden away

 

Sew the mask back up

Pull it back over your face

"But they love you"

Only this way

 

When the mask slips

Or rips

Gets torn

Or worn

They could have sworn

This isn't you

 

Play pretend

Until the end

Repaint the smile

Upon your face

 

Painful grimace

You hold with grace

Just keep the grin

So long you...

Can't tell when it's genuine...

 

Bright eyes

Hide the hollow inside

Like a Jack-o-lantern

Glowing, but empty

 

"But they love you"

Over and over

"They love you"

So it doesn't matter if you do

Because they love you

 

And you're not aloud

Loyal and proud

Of your work

Because it's all you have

You're an addict

You need this

You need them

Despite how they hurt you

"They love you"

 

You need their attention

You need their love

Because you don't have any for yourself

You're hollow

But they keep filling you

 

"Could you love this?"

You present to them, yourself

What you have left

"This hollow, empty shell?

Maybe you could...fit nicely, there..."

 

The problem is that now it takes more

Then they can provide, they adore

Watching you gore

Gouge yourself, hold out your guts

 

Spill them for everyone

There's nothing left inside anyways

Show them the cavity inside

Where your heart goes

And watch them leave

 

Turn their backs because they thought

They knew you because they knew your mask

And won't see past

 

Stitch your chest back up

Never bare yourself again

You're not aloud these feelings

Because they love you

 

They love you so much

They don't want to see your hurt

Bundle it up

 

"But they love you"

They love you...

And...after all...

You waited, smiling, for them...