She looks like she’s got the world by the tail.
You don’t see her questioning if she’s grabbed onto the right one.

She looks like she’s created many opportunities for herself.
You don’t see that she’s scared to choose to commit to just one.

She looks like the picture of independence.
You don’t see her wonder if she will ever find someone to share herself with.

She looks ready to accept any challenge that comes her way with ease and grace.
You don’t see the many time she has stumbled and fallen.

She is always ready with a smile and a laugh.
You don’t see the heartache that sits just below the surface.

She looks so confident, with an aura of self-assuredness.
You don’t see the many times she is frightened.

She looks like the one person you can rely on.
You don’t hear her whisper how tired she is from people leaning on her.

She looks like she can walk into any room and shine brightly.
You don’t see that that light requires all of her energy.

She appears witty and charismatic.
You don’t see she hides behind her funny jokes.

She looks like fortune has smiled down on her.
You don’t see the endless hours of blood, sweat and tears she’s poured into her dreams.

She looks like she can boldly go in any direction she chooses.
You don’t see that her compass is broken and she is stumbling in the dark.

She looks like a mentor you wish you could emulate.
You don’t see that she fears she is lost.

She looks like a book you could get lost in.
You don’t see the torn and tattered pages and that her story is far from complete.

She wishes for someone to look deeper than the surface.
You won’t see her looking from the outside in. 

Author: Debbi Serafinchon

Image: Christiaan Tonnis/Flickr 

Editors: Emily Bartran; Yoli Ramazzina