See Me Beneath the Skin

Look past the face.

Past the scars.

Past everything I've learned to hide.

I built a mask from every word they threw,

A perfect stranger just to make it through.

I learned to laugh when I wanted to break,

I became whatever shape they wanted me to take.

But underneath this armor,

There's a heart that still beats.

Underneath the silence,

There's a voice they never meet.

I'm screaming without making a sound—

Is there anybody looking deeper?

CAN YOU SEE ME?

NOT THE FACE I SHOW!

NOT THE PERSON

YOU THINK YOU KNOW!

LOOK THROUGH THE DAMAGE,

LOOK THROUGH THE LIES—

THERE'S A PART OF ME

STILL TRYING TO SURVIVE!

CAN YOU SEE ME?

THE ONE I KEEP INSIDE?

I'M DONE WITH HIDING—

I'M DONE WITH THE LIE!

I've spent my whole life afraid of being known,

Terrified you'd leave if I showed you the stone.

So I buried every weakness underneath my pride,

And called it strength while I disappeared inside.

I don't need you to save me.

I don't need you to fix my scars.

I just want someone to look at me

And recognize who they are.

TEAR AWAY THE MASK!

RIP OPEN THE VEIL!

IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH—

THEN LOOK AT ME!

I AM FLAWED!

I AM SCARED!

I AM BROKEN!

I AM STILL HERE!

CAN YOU SEE ME?

NOT THE FACE I SHOW!

NOT THE PERSON

YOU THINK YOU KNOW!

LOOK THROUGH THE DAMAGE,

LOOK THROUGH THE LIES—

THERE'S A PART OF ME

STILL TRYING TO SURVIVE!

Maybe someday someone will stay

When the armor falls away.

Maybe someone will hear my voice

And love the truth beneath the noise.

Until that day,

I'll keep becoming

The person I've been hiding from.

IF YOU SEE ME—

DON'T LOOK AWAY!

IF YOU KNOW ME—

DON'T LET ME FADE!

I'M NOT THE MASK!

I'M NOT THE PAIN!

I'M NOT THE SHADOW

YOU THINK YOU SEE!

CAN YOU SEE ME?

NOW I'M STANDING HERE!

NO MORE MASKS!

NO MORE FEAR!

LOOK THROUGH THE DAMAGE,

LOOK INTO MY EYES—

THIS IS THE REAL ME,

THE ONE I KEPT INSIDE!

CAN YOU SEE ME?

CAN YOU FINALLY SEE?

I was never asking you

to see someone perfect.

I was only hoping

you'd stay long enough

to see me.