My Little Secret

I am not
Who you think I am.
Nowhere near, in fact.
It's just an act,
A performance,
To hide the truth.
You may have known me
For all my life,
But you know nothing about me.
My life is a lie,
And it's all for you,
To make you proud,
To make you love me.
But do you ever
See what I do?
Do you ever
See what I've sacrificed
To be what you want me to be?
No.
Because you don't know.
It's my little secret.
How would you react
If you knew the truth?
If you realised
I'm not the person
You thought I was?
You wouldn't be proud.
You would be disappointed
That I'm not the 'perfect' child
You thought I was.
You would turn your back on me,
Leaving me to fight on my own.
You wouldn't even acknowledge
All I've done to make you proud.
But that's why
You will never know,
Never know
The real me.
It'll be my little secret
For eternity.

Copyright©JosieWentzel21July2004