100 Notes I'm Afraid To Write.

20. Peel-Off Mask

Peel-Off Mask

In the mirror’s reflection, a face I don’t know,
Layers of colors, a shifting tableau.
Each morning I rise, with a canvas anew,
A peel-off mask hiding the truth that I rue.

With each dab of foundation, I cover the scars,
Painting over stories, concealing my wars.
The blush of my cheeks, a fabricated glow,
Yet inside, the shadows of doubt start to grow.

I chase after beauty, a phantom I seek,
In the eyes of the world, I feel so weak.
For every compliment whispered, I crave even more,
A fleeting illusion, a never-ending chore.

The laughter around me, a chorus of cheer,
Yet I’m tethered in silence, drowned out by my fear.
I project my own doubts onto those that I meet,
Wearing my insecurities like shoes on my feet.

“Am I pretty enough?” is a question I ask,
With each glance in the mirror, I hide behind a mask.
I change my appearance, a chameleon’s dance,
Yet the more that I change, the less I feel enhanced.

In crowded rooms, I wear laughter like clothes,
But the fabric of joy is a fragile repose.
I feign confidence, smile, and pretend to be bright,
Yet inside I’m unraveling, lost in the night.

Every judgment I hear, every glance that I catch,
Are echoes of my fears, a wound with no patch.
I long for approval, for someone to see,
The heart that’s beneath this facade made of me.

I sculpt my reflection to fit in their mold,
Changing the story that my mirror has told.
But beneath all the layers, the colors, the sheen,
Lies a soul yearning deeply, a heart caught between.

I wonder if they notice the masks that we wear,
Or the weight of our burdens, the truth that we bear.
For every new layer, there’s a cost to my soul,
In the quest for acceptance, I’m losing control.

Yet in moments of stillness, when the noise fades away,
I find traces of beauty in the mess of the day.
In the laughter of friends, in the love that I find,
Perhaps I can let go of the need to be blind.

With every new day, I construct a facade,
Hoping to shine bright, to be seen and applauded.
Yet as I add layers, the weight starts to grow,
A mask that is heavy, concealing my glow.

I hear the whispers, the doubts in my head,
“Who are you, really? Are you lost or misled?”
And the answers I seek seem just out of reach,
Like lessons unlearned, like truths left to teach.

So I gather my courage, a flicker of hope,
To peel back the layers, to learn how to cope.
For beneath all the fabric, the paint, and the fear,
There lies a raw beauty, unique and sincere.

In the gallery of faces, each story unfolds,
Some wear their emotions like jewels, bright and bold.
While I hide in the shadows, a timid refrain,
Longing to step out, to embrace my own pain.

For the world is a canvas, and I am the brush,
With colors unspoken, waiting to rush.
To blend in the chaos, to find my own hue,
In the portrait of living, I’ll paint something true.

In the whispers of night, I confront my own fears,
The insecurities rooted in laughter and tears.
I’ll gather my pieces, the fragments of me,
And learn to be grateful for all that I see.

For the peel-off mask doesn’t define who I am,
It’s a part of the journey, a flickering flame.
Each layer I shed brings me closer to light,
As I walk through the darkness, embracing my fight.

I’ll find strength in my flaws, in the cracks and the scars,
A mosaic of moments, a map of my stars.
And though I may stumble, I’ll rise from the fall,
For the beauty of living is the truth of it all.

So here’s to the peeling, to the journey we take,
To embrace all our layers, the love that we make.
In the depths of acceptance, we’ll find our own grace,
And discover the beauty in each tender place.

With every unmasking, we learn to be free,
To love ourselves wholly, just as we should be.
So let’s strip away layers, let the world see our heart,
For the peel-off mask reveals the most genuine art.

In the tapestry woven with threads of our souls,
We’ll cherish our stories, our dreams, and our goals.
For beneath all the masks, the beauty shines bright,
In the courage of living, we’ll claim our own light.

As we shed our disguises, we find a new way,
To celebrate truths that we’ve hidden away.
In the warmth of acceptance, we’ll dance without fear,
For the peel-off mask falls, and our hearts reappear.

In the end, we’ll discover the power inside,
To embrace every fragment, with nothing to hide.
For when we unite in our struggles and grace,
We create a connection that time can’t erase.