What they see vs. the real me

What they see is a girl
Pretty but not beautiful
Funny but not hilarious
Friendly but not a friend
They share a smile,
A laugh here and there,
A friendly chat,
This girl seems happy
And cheerful
And carefree
This is what they see
But what they see isn’t me

The real me hides behind a mask
She finds shelter in the comfort of her room,
Reading poetry and thinking…
Thinking about the days
The things said and done
That no one realized would hurt
And leave a permanent scar
But she also wonders about the days to come
The days when she won't be invisible anymore.
She dreams about taking off her mask
And she has hope for the future

But what they see is a girl,
And that is all they will ever see
For what covers the real me
Is a mask painted with shame.