We wear masks everyday. Some wear more than others. We wear them to hide out true selves. On the outside, you could be happy, but on the inside you might be crying out

in pain. All you have to do to hide that pain, is wearing a mask,

The other day my English teacher told us finding out how many masks you wear during the day would give bonus points to our brains. Well I couldn't disagree with him more.

I know I wear one mask. Exactly one. But this one mask hides everything. It holds me back, yet keeps me safe. It hides me from everyone and everything. From my fears to my

dreams. No one truly knows who I am. Everyone sees the bubbly and goofy and outgoing me. But everyday, I just want to lay in bed and cry. There are so many things in my life

I would like to accomplish that no one knows, and they never will. Or at least until I remove my mask. Its impossible for me to remove it. My mask and I are inseparable. For if I

remove it, the weight of my world will pour onto those I love, and I just couldn't do that.

In this class, there is another girl. A girl who was once my dearest friend. When the teacher brought up masks I could immediately identify mine. I immediately claimed it. But her,

I wondered if she could even begin to count hers. For a girl who wears so many, I wondered how she could possibly keep breathing in the day. A different mask for different

friends. I wonder how she does it. I only wear one and I can barely move along in the day.

I do try to be good to myself. These ways we hide are not right. But yet instead of worrying about making ourselves happy, we are to busy disguising ourselves so others will

accept us. I want to feel confident and needed, but I don't think that will every be possible for me. Someday I want to get out of this town, and follow MY dreams. Dreams that

I'm to afraid to tell now. Embarrassed by the reaction I'll get, so my mask will keep me safe. I wish to show my real feelings someday, but for now I think I will hide them behind

my basketball uniforms. In the end, my mask will always keep me safe, will yours?