Front. Mask. Pretense. Veil. Façade. Guise. Veneer.
There are many names for what I do, and no one does it better than me.
All my world's a stage, and I play the starring role. The theater's packed every day, all day.
There are two Edmunds. The first is the one everyone sees – the well-adjusted, happy, pleasant Edmund, the diplomat who loves his country, citizens, and family.
The second is Dark Edmund, Edmund-who-shall-not-be-seen, E for Edmund. That Edmund is a rag doll whose seams are popping from too many kicks. That Edmund is falling apart bit by bit every day. That Edmund is hurt, pained, wounded, stung, upset, saddened, depressed, devastated, grieving. That Edmund is abused, mistreated, molested, assaulted, injured, damaged. And only one person knows he exists.
So far.