look at yourself 

having to paste a smile on your face 

as you walk out the door

bracing yourself for the worst of this world

eyes dry but full of remorse

I've met people like you before

they say they're fine and laugh their way through the hurt

hearts so fragile and always on the verge of breaking

like they haven't already been broken

a thousand times over by onslaughts of words

spacing out because you'd rather be somewhere else

growing quiet because you can't hear yourself

over the voices in your head

all you want is for someone to notice

realize you're suffering and finally give you what you need

stay with you until you fall asleep, help you find some peace

look at yourself

go on, look in the mirror

I hope you see what I see

and what I see is a survivor

a person who is

physically, mentally, emotionally

tired

but chooses to carry on

knowing that although scars are permanent

they will fade away like the color in your favorite shirt

I know what it's like to have bad days

but if you never had them 

how would there be any good ones?

people say you’re attention-seeking

when really all you want is their support

I’ve tried so hard to understand 

why you did what you did but

some things are better left in the dark

nothing lasts forever

meaning you won’t always feel this blue

someday that empty space in your heart

will fill with a feeling that’s been long overdue

and you’ll smile and think back 

to the days when you were younger

when your mind was at a constant war 

and your bones ached and your soul felt sore

you’ll smile because you overcame 

what you had to undergo

look at yourself

you are one of the strongest people I know

but it’s okay to not be okay

it’s okay to let someone else 

be strong for you every once in a while

let someone else be the one to hold you

to comfort you, to sit with you and give you company

know that you’re not responsible for anything 

but yourself & your health

girl, you’re not guilty of anything 

except being a badass queen

why do you still feel so worthless?

you're worth way more to me

than half the people I meet 

on a day to day basis

look at yourself

I know there’s a huge pit in your stomach,

a heavy weight on your shoulders 

you’re constantly disappointed by all the people in your life 

who keep letting you down

but you’re never surprised because it’s normal now

you’re so close to hitting that point

every breakdown chips away

at your brain

you can no longer think straight

searching for a way out

thinking no one will notice if you try to end the pain

ignoring texts, blocking calls

look at yourself

then take a look around

yes there are haters but

there are more people who care about you,

people who love you

because you are enough

and you’ve got to hold on,

you’ve got to get back up

and learn to love yourself

and the life you were born to live