OUTSIDE OF MY MASK

My life is a lie,
Dreadful misery,
Plaguing shadows,
Swirling, dragging,
Pulling me into my own void.
Afraid to show my face,
Outside of my mask.

Just barely existing,
A shadowed breath,
Living in the darkness,
My own sadness accompanies.
Still Lingering, breathing,
Seeing, feeling nothing
but my own betrayal.  

There’s no way out,
No escape from the voices,
Piercing, clawing-
Tearing me to shreds.
I cower within this safe gloom,
Afraid to show my face,
Outside of my mask.

Lies, lives, screams,
Will they never leave me alone?
The ghosts, the shadows,
Of them who I betrayed,
Will they ever leave me alone?
Will my own conscience?

I am safe now,
I no longer have to face them,
I don’t-
No, I don’t.
As long as I don’t show my face,
Outside of my mask.