Cardboard Cutout

I was once innocent and pure minded. Now I am corrupted and broken.

I have shattered into a million pieces and can never gain all of them back.

Each step I take pushes me a mile back. To where I am forever lost.

The hope disappeared. Along with any shred of humanity I have left.

That spirited child grew up and shriveled to the ground;

Cold and lifeless- but still with a beating, bruised heart.

I try to thrive, to push It all away.

To scream, "mercy!"

To call out for help. I am here! Right in front of you! But all they see is the flat cardboard cutout.

They all walk by. "Nothing is wrong here," they think.

Nothing pops out. No signs to see what's wrong.

That's what they all think. And that's what they'll continue to think. Until they take a closer look And they see that I was here all along.