She seems strong, because she goes out of her way to check that everyone else is happy.
Because she not only takes care of herself, but also takes care of everyone around her.
She seems strong, because she never cries in front of a crowd.
Unsplash / Shwa Hall
She seems strong, because she goes out of her way to double-check everyone else is happy.
Because she not only takes care of herself, but also takes care of everyone around her.
But her strength is only an illusion.
When she is surrounded by her family and friends, she forces smiles.
She acts like she is happy.
Like she has her life together.
Unsplash / Shwa Hall
Like there isnt anything weighing on her mind.
No one notices the way she escapes to the bathroom just so she can breathe again.
The way her eyes glaze over after conversations end.
The way her laughter trails off soon after it begins.
Everyone thinks highly of her.
They think she has a good head on her shoulders.
They think that she can handle anything that life throws at her.
They dont see the mornings she spends crying inside of the shower.
They dont hear the dark thoughts that race through her head.
They dont see the nightmares that haunt her once her eyelids close.
They dont taste the hopelessness swimming through her veins.
She looksstrongon the outside, because there are people around her whoneedher to be strong.
If they saw her crumble, then it would only make things worse for them.
It would make them worry.
It would make them concerned.
Showing her truth would be bad for everyone involved.
So she has become an expert at faking okay-ness.
She does everything she can to appear normal.
She looksstrong but she does not feel strong at all.
She feels like she is tricking everyone into thinking she is someone she is not.
She feels like she is living a lie.
She feels like she is playing a role.
It takes strength to leave the house when she could easily make excuses to stay inside.
It takes strength to keep going when she cant think of a good reason to do so.
It takes strength to beher.
