A moving poem written by a young woman with self-harming problems.

THE WONDERS BEHIND LONG SLEEVES

It may look all good and sunny.

Truth be told, it holds fabricated illusions.

The woven mask, mastered to hide it fairly well.

Like a smile with a sarcastic grin.

It is Your wall built incredibly high, hiding the grey, dark part within you.

Words loudly spoken to conceal the person you don't want to reveal.

Your make-up so beautifully done to hide the shame in your eyes that you fear they would see.

Your sleeves preferred- long.

You just don't want them to see the scars, on your arms.

The hidden pain and suffering.

They will never understand the insane pleasure you receive from punishing yourself for pain you didn't enforce upon yourself, not even a little bit, not even at all.

Every scar sings a different lyric to your favourite life song, so thinly scarred on a flawless body part.

These, are the wonders behind long sleeves.

The cliche, "I'm getting cold"; is what

such a young, brave girl can come up with because she has managed to speak to her blade for so many years.

The captured moment she has to erase, without accepting that she might not be fully ready.

The unspoken story, that pays her a visit when she's alone.

Despite the confusion; it's time to let the blade go.

She allows the steel through her skin for the very last time; allowing the pain to slide with it right through her soul for the very last time.

*Tiffany G"