Pretending

You asked me

who I pretend to be
the answer is
always someone new
the person pretending
to be happy
the person pretending
to be smart
the person pretending
to feel joy
the person pretending
to not feel hurt
the person pretending
to not cry me to sleep
the person pretending
a life without anxiety 

I spend every day
pretending to be
someone I’m not
I can’t catch a break
I don’t have space
I can’t breathe
I can’t find peace

I walk into the world

with a smile to show

it’s my greatest mask

always hiding

always pretending

but when the conversation

turns too close to home

I end up empty, hollow

afraid that people will know

how I feel and who I am