in a world of sadness and gloom.
a difference, a smile makes.

and yet ...

in the dead of the night, into another world.
a world of solitude; away from prying eyes.
the clasp comes undone and the mask comes falling off.
gasps of air. pure, unadulterated.
barely enough.
in the mirror the eyes see.
what is and is yet not.
time but crawls, and tis the hour again.

on goes the mask, with the soft deafening click.
and there. into the world you go.