What They Don’t See
“they see the smile,
but not the weight it hides.
they hear the laugh,
but not the silence after.
they think i’m strong
because i show up—
not knowing
how hard it is
just to get out of bed.
i break in quiet ways.
i fall without noise.
and maybe that’s why
no one notices.
but i’m still here.
still fighting.
and maybe that’s enough
for now.”