she hides it all behind a smile.
deep within,
she feels it,
but she won't let it show.
she's the strong one,
she has to be.
she must meet the expectations.
he's not here to be that anymore.
she can do this;
stay strong.
it's for them,
she knows.
but deep inside,
she feels the loss
eat at her like acid rain.
but she can hide that with a smile.

he hides it all beneath his sleeves.
every scar,
every bruise,
every word that rattles deep.
when home is no sanctuary,
where does he go?
he goes no where;
instead, turns to the blade,
the small slip of silver that takes it all away.
it's not right,
not healthy,
so good.
and every bruise he bears,
he matches with a line.
but he can hide that beneath his sleeves.

they can hide behind closed doors.
but what's a door, anyway,
but a portal to the truth?
all it takes is a look
a questioning glance
a small murmur of
are you okay?
to break that all apart,
to find what's on the other side.
all it takes is to notice
what no one else wanted to.
all it takes is to reach out
where no one else wanted to.
all it takes is to care
when no one else wanted to.
because every door is a portal
just waiting to be opened.
yet they still hide behind closed doors.

cover up the pain