Constrictive Skin

Wearing new skin, this lady's all anew Brandishing epidermal camouflage A new sense of comforted composure Gallantly striding in a way she never had Safely Stepping Strengthened I dare not ask to see a layer below this show She is showing me the preferable version Nodding I approve...yes a better you a newer you a different you...silently I disapprove Fearing I knew the little girl hiding underneath would peek from time to time Seeing if her costume served its perfunctory purpose fooling them...pleased...she traipsed in hollow garb The masquerade wore on and a newer audience appeared Performances went from weekly, to daily, to constant Consuming and constrictive New skin clung tight to a suffocating girl A different girl A frustrated girl The game had transformed into a maddening display The girl I knew, a shell of herself, feeling trapped Crying out in a confused scream of fit "Why don't they understand"!!!! I couldn't bring myself to tell her what she wouldn't see A facade of outer strength was weakening the core No one understood her...because they didn't know who she was.....