When the Masks Fall Away

Photo by Llanydd Lloyd on Unsplash

When the masks fall away
the air shifts
thin veils of polished perfection
flutter to the ground
and in the quiet that follows
something ancient exhales.

We have worn them so long
these careful disguises
of competence, composure
of “I’m fine.”
We built them from fear and hope
from stories told and retold
until even we believed them.

But beneath the gloss
beneath the shoulds and the shine
waits the soft pulse
of something real
a truer self
unarmoured, unperformed
longing to appear.

It’s a tender homecoming
this unmasking
terrifying perhaps
for who are we
without the roles
without the practiced smiles
without the weight of expectation?

And yet
as the layers slip away
as truth meets the air
it feels like breathing
for the first time in years
the long-held breath released
the soul whispering, Finally.

Here, in this sacred nakedness
we remember what it means
to be human
flawed, radiant
alive with wonder and ache
courage grows roots
connection blooms
and honesty feels like freedom.

And perhaps
in choosing to live unmasked
we plant small seeds of change
a quieter revolution
that begins within
mask by mask
truth by trembling truth.

For where the masks end
the soul begins to speak
And what it says
is love…just love…