Why do you look so mad?

This is my face.  My natural, relaxed, all the time, no matter the season, morning/noon/night face.  And, apparently, I look mad.  Apparently, this is intimidating.  Apparently, this causes complete strangers, mild acquaintances, and close friends to wonder who I want to kill.  But, it's just my normal expression.  And, I only want to kill someone about 67% of the time.  So, calm down people.

I've seen the people who walk around smiling all the time, and I don't trust them.  Who's happy all the time?!  I prefer people who look like they're living in the real world.  People who don't see fairies and gumdrops everywhere they go.

But this is me.  And, maybe I like that my expression makes most people leave me alone.  Maybe I don't want to be friendly and approachable.  Maybe I've been through some stuff that makes me not want people to get close.  Maybe I don't want you to feel like you can walk right up to me and become a part of my life.  Maybe I don't want to watch one more person walk through my heart leaving nothing but pieces in their wake.

I recently tried smiling more.  Well, I wasn't really trying - it was more like I was inspired to smile more.  Know what happened?  It was uncomfortable and awkward.  It made my cheeks sore.  And, I got hurt.  So, no thank you.  I'm back to where I belong and this melancholy is so much more fitting.  It even works in my favor sometimes.  It weeds out the weaker links and allows the stronger ones to shine.  The ones willing to walk right up to you and say "Why are you so mad?".  The ones who will accept the unspoken challenge and try to make me smile.  The ones who will insist they are winning when it happens.  Those moments make this natural face of mine right.

So, the next time you see someone who doesn't look like the sun shines on them all the time, try to remember that maybe it doesn't.  Maybe that person is trying to keep everyone at arm's length (or evil stare's length) for a reason.  And, maybe, don't point out how angry they look... unless you plan on changing it.