Fading Memories

Do you remember

when we were young?

when life didn't really matter

and we could just have fun?

Do you remember

when we always wanted to play outside?

when rainy days made us sad?

Do you remember

how sunny it was in summer?

how going back to school

was the lamest thing ever?

Do you remember

how we would stay outside until dark

but then we had to come inside?

how our parents had to force us into bed

so that we would actually sleep?

when we would have sleepovers

and try to stay up all night?

Do you remember

when it didn't matter whether we won or lost

so long as we tried our best?

when we could always get better?

stronger?

smarter?

Do you remember

when we could always have a second chance?

or a third?

a fourth?

when things weren't so permanent?

Do you remember

when we still had chances?

Do you remember

when the hero always saved the day?

when there was a happily ever after?

when Good always triumphed over Evil?

when there was Good and Evil?

Do you remember

when we didn't have to ask ourselves

what the right thing to do was

because it was always so obvious?

when there was a right thing to do?

Do you remember

when the world wasn't our problem?

when we never had to worry about anything

because we weren't big enough, yet?

when the grown-ups would always

take care of everything?

take care of us?

Do you remember

when we could cry for any reason at all?

when our tears could always be dried

by a good laugh?

when we didn't always have to be

so serious when we cried?

before we learned not to?

Do you remember

when we learned to be strong?

independent?

to take care of ourselves?

to pick ourselves up when we fell?

to not give up because we were weak?

to not be afraid of anything?

Do you remember

when we could just try again

if we messed things up?

Do you remember

what it was like?

Do you remember

why it all had to change?