a fake smile,
that's all it takes
to mask the wounds of the heart.

it's easy, don't you think,
to just curve those lips a little;
avoid the awkward sympathy and pitiful glance.

the wonders of that smile
are unbelievable yet believable.

aren't we all a little afraid
of the mockery that will hit us
if we let that false smile slip
and be real?
for there are only a few
who care deeply
and even less
who see past the façade we had built.

hence we found an easy way
to avoid everything that may hurt us.

but tell me this, dear people,
is easy really the right answer?

-Awditi