I am

When sitting down, 

to write this poem, 

I began by saying 

"Once just a small seed, 

I am now a beautiful flower"

But that's not exactly the truth. 

Long ago

When I was much younger, 

I was full of life, 

bursting at the seams with love and wonder.

But now, 

I am a shell of what I used to be;

I've given up on wonder

and love just seems unrealistic. 

But looking at what's happened between now and then,

can you really blame me?

Not-so-long ago, 

when I was just slightly younger, 

My so-called "friends" 

ripped away my childhood. 

They insulted me, 

laughed at me, 

they left horrible traits,

such as jelousy ans scepticism. 

But not everything they left was bad.

Because of them, 

I am stronger, 

I am more understanding, 

and I am me.