Walking down the hall

The eyes staring me down

I can’t let them see,

not the real me

Can’t let myself peek out from behind the curtain

Spending years pulling the blue fabric taunt 

Careful not to show one inch

Of my true self 

The soul behind the picture

The outgoing person I want to be

Too many judgmental stares to feel confident

To be unreserved  

Will they laugh?

Am I to be the class comedian?

That’s never what I have wanted to be.

Should I care? 

Maybe they will like the real me.

The one who likes nerdy movies.

Who likes to wear sweatpants instead of jeans

Perhaps it’s time to peek out from behind the curtain.