you ask if i'm alright, and i'll sit there for a minute, my head in my hands thinking 'no, no, no. i'm not alright. i'm hurting and i want to cry and cry and cry until it doesn't hurt anymore. i'm the furthest thing from alright that there is' but i'll look up and smile, tears ever so slightly glazing my eyes and i say i'll be fine. and you'll say 'okay'.