.:the sadness in her eyes was evident, even through the silken, twisted fabric of the mask hiding her face. it didn't matter that the people surrounded her smiled with glee and grasped each other's hands as they spun under the lights of the masquerade. being alone was much harder than any single person could have expected. the mask across her porcelain skin hid the salt-filled tears that were slowly sliding down her cheeks. it was too much. being here, where she didn't belong, was too much to handle for only one shattered heart:.

mendacia pulchra; fractis animis