My Mask
“Let’s grab coffee tomorrow, I haven’t seen you in forever”
A text sent from the girl I used to call my bestfriend
“Sure sounds great”
I reply as tears begin to fall from my eyes
I prepare my mask as I go to meet her
She thinks that the mask is me
But it’s not
I think about the possibility of taking off the mask
Of showing her who I really am
Because I don’t like the mask
I don’t like the way it feels on my face
I don’t like the way that it looks
I don’t like anything about it
And recently I’ve been wearing the mask less and less
But only around the people I know are okay with what’s underneath
As we drink our coffee I keep my mask on
And make fake conversation to match my fake appearance
I think for a moment about taking off the mask
But as I picture her reaction to me
I keep it on
I realize that no matter how much I hate this mask
This mask is keeps me safe
I need my mask