Behind Closed Doors

The doors are locked. The blinds are

closed. No light in. No light out.

Shut in and shut out. Not many

possess the key.  Hidden from

the world. Behind closed doors

is where he stays. They say it is

a phase. He doesn’t show his face.

Stuck in place: defeated. Tired.

Unmotivated. Losing the race. Hurt.

Damaged. When on the other side

of the door, he puts on a mask:

a mask sporting a big smile.

He can only do this for awhile.

He pushes on without hesitation.

When around others, he leaves

nothing to the imagination. He is

in pain; no one would suspect a thing.

No one knows what he doesn’t show.

He fights his battle alone: behind

closed doors, yet he is still strong.

On the other side of the door, he’s

a soldier at war. He ignores the scars.

He shelters others from the rain.

He does his best to maintain.

He’ll leave the house: just not today.