The Thespian

You swallow the light
A familiar feeling
Envelops you
A perfect stranger

How many times has it been
That you put on the face of
Someone you’re not
Hoping it will be different this time?

You put on your smile
Your best efforts to be someone
You’re not
But maybe
Someone good enough for them

It’s not even a person
Who looks back
Just a character
In a fragile mask

How long will you last
Before you shatter your shell
And allow the real you to shine through
Imperfect as you are?

You’re breaking at the seams
Your frayed edges
Try so hard to hold together
The act 

You choke
On yourself
But force it down
With a shot of empty words

Sometimes you forget
And let yourself slip through
And light pours out through the cracks
Before you seal them

Liquid light fills your mouth
With a metallic taste
When you pull your costume back together
Bracing for the impact

And when your pounding heart
Slows down
You’ll realize
The world didn’t end

Slowly, at first
You’ll learn to breathe again
Piece by piece
The costume comes off

Parts you will not
Come back whole
Things will have changed
But you can’t stop that

And the pieces that are left
Are still you
The one you tried to shut away
And that will be good enough