Help Me, Stay.

Get to know me for who I am, not who I pretend to be.
Sure you see me from the outside, but get to know the real me.
Know that when I'm laughing, I really want to cry.
Know that my smiles only cover up the lies.
I want you to expose me so I'll know the truth, that every fake thing I do, doesn't get past you.
Try to keep me happy, so I don't dwell on being sad,
Ignore the way I always try to pretend that I'm mad.
I want to get caught for being fake, I want everyone to know, so I know the stakes.
Why should I get to live a life that isn't even mine,
When everybody else in this world has to do their time?
I know that I am just pretending to be someting I'm not,
but I also know that I won't stop until I get caught.
It's not like I want to be the very person I put down,
but the only way for me to quit is for you to stay around.
I want to be the person that you really see,
but I'm afraid of who that might be.
I will be willing to try and change the person I pretend I am,
but without you the efforts lost, I might as well be damned.