My Odd Truth (dermatillomania writing)

When they ask but actually assume how I got the "burn" on my hand, why don't I tell them the truth?
If they are so bold to ask a stranger that question, why should I not be bold and tell them it's worse than they think?
I'm protecting them.
Because I don't want them to think about it, because maybe they'll get nervous.
Maybe they'll start to think about how a person could be so mad that they continually pick their skin, almost to the bone.
The things that they're ashamed of about themselves, their madness, their scars, don't seem to be as open to questioning. For this, I envy them.
But maybe I come to terms with mine more because it is out in the open, vulnerable to being asked about by strangers.
Maybe I'm doing myself a disservice by not telling these strangers my odd truth.