by Anita Carter

Created on: May 04, 2008   Last Updated: September 17, 2008

The Mask

Four women speak,
in front of millions of people,
with hope that their message will be heard

The first woman comes up to speak

"I am a woman who has everything
And I come from the higher end of the social class
With family and friends who love me

Yet no one knows my secret
I am an alcoholic and drug user
Not even my family and friends knows this about me

I could have lost it all

If anyone had found out about my secret
So I hid behind a mask

But I am no longer fearful
I am now free
I no longer need to be hidden behind my mask"

The next woman gets up to speak

"I am a teacher, who lives in
middle class neighborhood, with a simple life

I have a loving husband and son who are my life

My husband works in a factory
And my son, who is on the honors list, plays varsity

But my secret is that my son used to abuse me
And no one knew this this but me

I could lose him forever,
if anyone found out about him, especially my family

To hide the abuse,
I used to wear a mask

Now I am free
I no longer live hidden in a mask"

The third woman is ready to tell her story
She begins to speak

"Yes, you may know me
from top of the line magazines

I have modeled almost all my life
and have been on every cover that is to be seen

And yes, I may have wealth and fame
with respect from many with class to my name

So what could ever be wrong with me?
I have scars, inside and out, from a mental illness,
my mental illness

If anyone one had found out,
it could have destroyed my career

That I have worked and fought for so long
that I have held near and dear

That is why I lived my life behind an iron mask

But I am no longer fearful
I am free

To live without the iron mask that once held me"

The last woman has tears in her eyes
As she goes to speak

All of you see this white collar
and know that I'm a pastor in my church

And I came to the country in search

I wanted freedom for my life
But inside of me, I had no life

For my secret is that
I am illegal alien who has a criminal past

When people saw my collar, they didn't question my past

And I was a lesbian prostitute in order to survive
I used to steal to keep alive

This my secret
And I hope all of you will forgive me

But now I am stronger without my mask

I am finally free"

In unison,
all of the women, holding hands, come up to speak

"I am a woman who is no longer afraid to speak

I am just one out of millions who have worn a mask

But every second of every day,
there are still millions of women who still wear a mask

But today,
I declare myself free

And I will be the voice of the woman who still is not free

Then one day,
she may be the next one to say

I am free!
I am free!
This mask will no longer hide me!"

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