Silent Battles I don't tell anyone when I'm hurting anymore. Not my family. Not my friends. Not even the people closest to me. I've learned how to cry quietly, wipe my own tears, and stand back up like nothing's wrong. I laugh. I talk. I show up. I do everything I'm supposed to do. But inside, I'm tired in a way that sleep can't fix. Because no matter how much I need someone, I don't reach out anymore. It feels easier to pretend I'm okay than to explain a pain no one really understands.