Are You Okay?

Am I okay, they ask,

I respond swiftly, trying to mask,

The earthquakes in my voice, the tremors inside,

The tsunamis in my eyes, the tears I hide.

With every word, I build a wall,

To shield the drought within, to stand tall,

But beneath the facade, a desert vast,

A parched heart, a soul aghast.

I hurry my speech, keep the pace,

To hide the void, the empty space,

Yet the quiver in my voice betrays,

The turmoil within, the endless maze.

Each syllable uttered, a silent plea,

For understanding, for empathy,

But the storms rage on, unseen, unheard,

A tempest of emotions, unspoken word.

So, I rush through conversations, quick replies,

To veil the turmoil, the silent cries,

Hoping they won't notice, won't see through,

The façade I wear, the mask I construe.

Yet deep down, I long for someone to see,

Beyond the words, the pretense, to perceive,

The pain that echoes in each hurried breath,

The longing for solace, for a moment's rest.

But until then, I'll keep up the charade,

Hiding the tempest, the turmoil I evade,

Responding swiftly, with practiced art,

To conceal the chaos tearing me apart.