Smile!

The thing inside is eating me,
Eating the joy,
Eating the calm.

The angry thing inside sits on me,
Pushing the hate,
Filling my chest.

The thing inside fights,
Scratching its way to the surface,
Growing unless I hold it in.

The thing inside fills my eyes,
Where it can see the world,
It paints it with its fury.

The thing inside steals me,
My words are a battle I can't let it win.
It forces my mouth into a grin.

The thing inside consumes,
And my lips pull back,
Baring our teeth to the world.

The thing inside makes me,
Forces me to smile,
When all I want is to cry.
Forces me to smile,
When I'd rather be grim.

The thing inside fears me,
Because with me it dies,
With me it feels,
With me it cries,
With me it hides.

The thing inside loves me,
Wants to protect me,
From myself,
From others,
From the pain we suffer.

The thing inside, smiles, because it's me.