She could cry you a river
if she allowed the tears to flow
but she knew once they began
they'd flood her world with their sorrow.

So, she holds the hurt inside
safe and personal
unwilling to share, unable to care.
She can feel it wanting to escape
bubbling at the surface 
trying to suffocate.

She knows one day she'll set it free
allow herself to recover fully
but for now she keeps it
under lock and key
preferring the pain to
feeling empty.