Behind That Sparkling Smile

The truth we all have to face is that life's tough, we all know that,
Yet everyday I see hundreds of students come to school with smiles on their faces,
Their words and tone unwavering, their attitude normal and polite,
Their faces bright and illuminated with happiness, eyes bright and wide
Many students fail to even hint a frown or an angry look at times.
Yet, inside they're all suffering, each with their very own problems.
Some of them may be greater than others, but each just as difficult to overcome.
A problem might not be life-threatening, but can still challenge a person's happiness.
As I walk through the crowd, it's hard to tell if someone just lost a special someone,
hard to tell if someone's even slept properly in their own home last night,
and even harder to tell the many people who have been so close to facing death at times.
I realize how hard people try not to let others know what they're really going through,
people don't want to trouble others with their problems, so they hide themselves.
But behind that sparkling smile, is a person trying so hard to stay happy,
Behind those bright, wide eyes, is a person trying so hard to keep from tears,
Behind that contagious laugh, is a person who's torn from the inside, but will never show it.
There are so many people out there who suffer, yet no one knows what they go through.
I realize I really can't say anything about a person until I get to truly know them.
Often times, I judge people before I think, why is she so reserved or why is he so rude?
Maybe it's because of all they have to face and there are times where they just give up.
After all, if it's hard to truly smile from the inside, from the heart, imagine how hard it is to smile when all you have is a broken heart inside.