Constantly worried about the possibility of failure, it waits for a chance to ruin her. Lurking in the corners of her mind, it surfaces with every assignment, every class, and every school day. This fear of failure provides stress. She will crack. Any day now. But she’s always smiling.

Anxiety runs her life. There’s no escape. She’s red faced, self-conscious, and it’s impossible to sit still. Her fight or flight reflex engages. Anxiety is frowned upon—there’s nobody to understand. She trudges through the pain. But she’s always smiling.

People worry when she doesn’t appear happy. They ask questions and pretend to care. Masking her pain is easier than attempting to explain herself—the way she feels. So she’s always smiling.