Neon smiles in perfect frames We trade our breath for borrowed names We learn the script, we hit the mark We glow on cue, we hide the dark Polite hello, precise I'm fine A curated heart on borrowed time We laugh in sync, we nod on beat Turn messy truth into something neat If love is proof, we show receipts A million eyes, a thousand seats And every compliment is a chain Soft as silk, still pulling pain We keep it sweet, we keep it light But feel the cracks under spotlight We wear a paper halo for the crowd Hands up high, hearts turned down Say the right words, play the role While emptiness collects its toll Flash, flash, make it holy Dance, dance, don't get lonely If they love the shape we show Do they ever love the soul? Smile on one, breathe on two Give them perfect: Hide the bruise Clap on three, don't explain Pretty hurts, but it pays We're everyone's favorite version Safe and sweet, no sharp excursion We filter flaws, we crop the grief We sell relief like disbelief Kindness turns to overtime A tired saint in party lights And when the room demands more We give, and feel a little sore If we stop performing, who remains? If we drop the mask, what breaks? The silence doesn't clap for us It only asks Some love is measured in reactions Some peace is bought with practiced actions We don't lie, we just edit the truth Till it fits a stranger's view So turn it up, let the surface glow Let the deeper ache stay low We keep the rhythm clean and tight So nobody sees the night We wear a paper halo for the crowd Hands up high, hearts turned down Say the right words, play the role While emptiness collects its toll Flash, flash, make it holy Dance, dance, don't get lonely If they love the shape we show Do they ever love the soul? No encore, for the real