Her Journey

she sleeps, small and childlike
curled into herself
dreaming of long conversations
and never-ending parties

as she becomes older,
she becomes younger
and younger still
until her glory days are once more

eyelids flutter in response
to some unseen wonder
and mumbles escape her lips
and laughter too

this is her journey
I cannot follow yet
I cannot share but only remember
the stories told so often

I only see the beauty
that is hidden behind the mask
so cruelly placed upon her face
it will never replace who she really is