Outward appearances are not inward reality at all. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 48)

Actors, all, we’ve disguised
the pain, played the role,
lied until we believed the script —
almost. Not quite, not completely.
We bought in to others’ acts,
assumed only we didn’t fit our skin,
didn’t belong, weren’t worthy.
Then we found honesty, found our fellows,
found the truth. Then we saw the beauty,
looking past facade to essence.