Muffled

All appears well,

so they assume you're asleep

'neath the heartiest laughter

and many a treat;

but meanwhile, the sentry
in you stays alert

to dissonance under

facades inert . . .

conflicts seething,

undetected,

liable to surface

when least expected.

They break their ties
as they go along

with the smiles and good cheer

of a lighthearted song.

This is their scream:
Anguish's reversed tone
as it writhes in distress,
feeling madly alone.