12

When you're 12,

You're taught that if you want something, you work hard for it

When you're 12,

You're taught if you work hard for something you will get it

When you're 12,

You should be taught effort is worth it

When you're 12,

You should feel how it feels to earn something that’s yours

When you're 12,

You shouldn’t be taught that no matter how hard you work you won’t get it

When you're 12, 

You shouldn’t know how it feels to reach for the stars,

To find out someone’s been pulling them farther away

When you're 12,

You should find out what its’s like to be betrayed

Not by a lover, but a good friend

When you're 12,

Sometimes you have to be sixteen,

Or thirty-two

Because when you're 12,

You learn not everything is fair

And if for once

Twice

Three times

Four

Five

And by six

Do you give up?

Is your effort really enough?

No

You put in more

You put in more work than you ever had before

And you get it

And you get it

And ...

You don’t

Because it's never enough

Never

Never ever

Enough

Because when you're 12,

And you think you’ve got this story to tell

But you don’t

Because you won’t

Because it might never happen

No matter if you're 12,

Or 11,

Or 10,

Or 8

Nothing will ever change