No one must ever hear me cry out - the pain is mine alone to bear. They would never understand the sadness that I hide so well... After the music stops, the last joke told - the laughter fading into the darkness like a distant memory... As my mask falls so quickly to the floor - replaced by the tears that wash away my smile, I stand alone and plead for the hurting to stop... and - again, I weep... Why do my tears not stop the pain..? But, now I must rest - for tomorrow, I will again wear the smile - the mask, the lie that hides the pain... And again - no one will know of my sadness... or hear me crying into the night... alone... again...