Your Sometimes Friend

You see me and your heart flies
But you never give me anything but lies
You steal glances but never look me in the eye
You thrive with others but before me you die
I see you for who you are
When you're just pretending to be a star
When you're really shrivelling up inside
When you're just trying to hide
For  I am a friend, even though you can't see
This simple fact about simple me
You feel you can be who you are
When you're with, you don't hide your scars
But you make the most awful choice
You choose to kill your own voice
And assume a gruff roar that's not yours
Against yourself you fight some wars
Because it's adulation that you crave
Instead of just being brave
And realizing that I'm a good friend
Who'd help you help yourself and defend
Your own self when your flaws come out
Who hears you whenever you shout
You smile because that's what they expect
Hoping you will gain some respect
But they only see a picture of you
Caught in time when you weren't being you
They admire you as they need
Someone off whom they can feed
Someone who can be their face
Someone in popularity's race
But what happens when all this is gone
And it's time for all to move on
And you are your true self again
No longer the image on which you had lain
Then you'll remember me, no doubt
You'll think of love and I'll not be about
Your friend will be gone and you'll be alone
As time and tide have finally shown
That you lost me when you chose them
When chose to play that game
Where you feel important and can act
Superficial and ignore the facts
But I don't want it to come down to that
So I'm warning you before that
This is just a friend lending a hand
Before you fall right into quicksand
So next time you steal a glance at me
Just hold it longer so you can see
That sometimes I stare right back
I'm the friend you clearly lack.