Smoke and mirrors
There's this shell around him. It's like a smokescreen; something to protect those raw, sensitive emotions underneath. Sure, it's easy for others to tell him not to hide and to just be himself. But have they thought what 'being yourself' means? And of course there's his ego, which can't stand looking vulnerable. He must be confident. He must be sure about himself. He must excel. Because if he doesn't, he lets people down. He lets himself down. And that hurts.
***
But sometimes, something comes along that gets through the smokescreen, that cracks the shell. He opens up, showing the many things the shell hides. Or sometimes, he inadvertently lets people get a glimpse of the inside. But all the time he closes up again, just like nothing had happened.
No-one thinks he's vulnerable, because that's not the image he projects. No-one thinks he's sensitive. People even think he's confident, maybe even slightly arrogant, because he seems to know what he is doing, and he always thinks it's right. But on rare occasions, something does get him to open up. And that's where the problems start. He is exposed. Another completely different dimension is opened up.
But it's easy to miss that dimension. Sometimes its even a fleeting view, obscured like a magician's trick. Or he covers up nicely through indirect statements and deceptive metaphors.
***
But what gets through, stays there. And if he thinks its worth it, he opens up, ready to find what he's been looking for.
***
What gets through, stays there. And it hurts. Especially when he gets out of his shell, just to get a slap in the face. Apparently, they were just toying with him. It wasn't real. And he always fell for it.
Too late.
And he retreats back into that protective shell, licking his wounds. And each time, the shell gets harder, and he gets worse.
***
I don't think he wants to come out of the shell anymore. Why should he risk it, when the end result isn't worth it?
Or maybe he's just happy wallowing in his own misery, alone.
Though deep down, he doesn't want to.
***
But sometimes, something comes along that gets through the smokescreen, that cracks the shell. He opens up, showing the many things the shell hides. Or sometimes, he inadvertently lets people get a glimpse of the inside. But all the time he closes up again, just like nothing had happened.
No-one thinks he's vulnerable, because that's not the image he projects. No-one thinks he's sensitive. People even think he's confident, maybe even slightly arrogant, because he seems to know what he is doing, and he always thinks it's right. But on rare occasions, something does get him to open up. And that's where the problems start. He is exposed. Another completely different dimension is opened up.
But it's easy to miss that dimension. Sometimes its even a fleeting view, obscured like a magician's trick. Or he covers up nicely through indirect statements and deceptive metaphors.
***
But what gets through, stays there. And if he thinks its worth it, he opens up, ready to find what he's been looking for.
***
What gets through, stays there. And it hurts. Especially when he gets out of his shell, just to get a slap in the face. Apparently, they were just toying with him. It wasn't real. And he always fell for it.
Too late.
And he retreats back into that protective shell, licking his wounds. And each time, the shell gets harder, and he gets worse.
***
I don't think he wants to come out of the shell anymore. Why should he risk it, when the end result isn't worth it?
Or maybe he's just happy wallowing in his own misery, alone.
Though deep down, he doesn't want to.
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