Scared from within

She walked by daily
Head covered and bowed
Strides timid but sure

I wondered endlessly,
How ugly the scars she hid were
And how she got them

So I got closer
Willing her to show them to me
To trust me

But I could never have been prepared
For the truth I uncovered

You see, hers was the fairest face of all
She had no visible scars to hide
She only covered and hid herself
For fear that her damaged soul would be seen
And her battered spirit would be further broken

Those scars,
They were the ugliest
They were on the inside

And her words were
'A souvenir from love'
With a smile that made my heart
Even as her tears, broke it