Darkness Lingers

You catch him unaware
In a quiet corner of the party,
His guard down.
You can see it
Lurking behind his eyes,
Emotion too raw to express.

Insecurity,
Longing,
Desperation,
Self-loathing,
And deeper...
An all-encompassing rage.

He meets your gaze and laughs it off.
You watch as he mingles
With his guests,
And you wonder how you missed it.
Why didn't you see
The turmoil devouring him from within?

His mask is back in place,
But it lingers in his eyes...
And you hope
It never comes to the surface.