Someone once said that what you see is what you get.  Is it now?

She wanted to be authentic; she wanted the world to know her for who she really was.  Of that, I have no doubt.  However, this is often easier said than done.

I remember watching as she stood before the audience, her fingers dripping with jewels bartered for a better portion than what she had been born to become.  Her wounded eyes spoke volumes of the longings that remained just below the surface.  Longings never daring to break through, or they may have destroyed the woman she had worked so hard to be.

Now, she smiled and the entire world smiled with her.  All bitterness and woe left behind.  As she danced her way into their hearts, the audience roared and sprang to their feet.  She was their darling; she could do no harm.  This night, she sparkled like the stars above.

The night wore on and those who had come to hear her sing left one by one.  At last, she stood alone on the darkened stage, the lights turned dim and the need to smile gone.  Turning slowly, she looked behind her, turning her head just so, to see the only figure left in the room.

It was he; the man who waited faithfully for her every night, regardless of how long it took.

Only he knew what she looked like when the mask was gone.  Only he knew that she shuddered as she pulled it slowly down to reveal the stranger who dwelt within.

Somehow, I knew her, for she was I.