She threw up from the taste of the lies she spat out,

And from constantly laughing, “I’m fine,”

She twisted the broken syllables on her tongue,

To lie about the remorseless voice in her mind.

People manipulated words like toxic tentacles,

That coiled around her brain,

Each bitter insult that slithered out of their mouths,

Inflicted an insufferable pain.

If you could measure the hurt she was forced to endure,

Maybe people would really see,

The impact “Small” words can truly have,

On everyday people like you or me.

That girl’s childhood was snatched away from her,

Now she’s all skin and bones,

With layers of makeup on her face,

Just like the other social media clones.

But the vultures of society,

Forced her to think her value is tattooed onto her skin,

That she should always wear a plastic smile,

And oppress the emotions within.

Now if you try to talk to her,

Or ask what’s on her mind,

She’ll try to lie to conceal her broken heart,

And simply shrug, “I’m fine.”