Surrounded by love

I grew up in a world surrounded by love 

Hugs in the morning and kisses before bed

Fears shared out loud 

Tears wiped away by a warm hand

Walks among the trees every single weekend

Art filled my life

And I was happy.

I am in a world surrounded by love

Friendship kept for years

Laughter in the evenings over dinner

Homework finished at the dining room table

Slowly achieving new dreams as I grow closer to 18.

And yet…

I’m becoming someone 

I’m not always proud to be 

Always tired from nights tossing and turning 

Never able to shut off a brain 

Determined to remind me of all my fears 

Not brave enough to handle the tasks that come with being older 

Too much homework ignored 

Over reading that comic that reminds me 

Of the boy I used to love 

And now no longer call my own.

And yet …

I’m growing into who I am

Learning who I want to be one day

Becoming the girl who knows what’s right

And fights for the injustice we face

And screams at night at the wrongs

And loves her friends more than herself 

And writes poetry to feel something other than a repeating life 

Of school and homework and dinner and not getting enough sleep.

And yet…

Even at 17 she still is surrounded by love 

That’s just changed shape.