Growing Up Takes Heart

Counting pennies,

Saving change,

All to fix something in her mother’s brain.

“What’s wrong,”

She asked as they

Handed her the dictionary

And opened up to an entry titled

Cancer.

A little girl had her

Whole world

Burst

Apart at the seams.

Mommy was sick.

Mommy may die.

While her mother got better,

Her world continued to change.

The D word came into her life:

Divorce.

Daddy cheated on mommy,

Something a seven-year old couldn’t understand.

All she knew was that

Daddy left

Everything in his hands.

She started to grow up,

Realize nothing was permanent.

Everybody leaves.

When she was fifteen she learned

Everybody dies

No matter how hard you try.

Her best friend killed,

Walking to a friend’s.

Deep depression sunk in,

She couldn’t seem to win.

Through her sorrow she learned,

You have to grow up.

Life is tough.

Don’t give up.