My mask is quiet lips

and shy eyes

Its timid answers

and flushed cheeks

Its who I pretend to be

The girl behind the mask is different

Shes exuberant

full of life

Shes late night road trips

and dancing under the stars

She does what she feels

Shes radiant

free spirited

Shes bursts of too loud laughter

and screaming to songs in the car

She speaks her mind

The girl behind the mask is me

I keep my mask on

because I fear being judged by my peers

I'm scared to take my mask off

I'm afraid to be bullied

and afraid to be annoying or obnoxious

Few have seen under my mask.

I keep it on

not because I hate who I am

but because I'm frightened that everyone else will.