Name

September 25th 1996. Starting the now 19 years nameless and small, my mother called me wonderful, my dad, baby girl, and the doctors called me a miracle when I survived.
Alexa
With the verifying certificate in hand, we made it to a red brick rambler on Allegheny Way where she called me little sister and put pretty pink bows in my hair.
Playmate
The first day of the of the first grade with the first broken bone, my daddy called me strong and a warrior princess and told me that nobility never cries or shows sadness, and stood me up.
Dolly
Dubbed "new kid" 15 times before I turned 15 and label just stuck. I learned how to smile and introduce myself, "Hi, I'm Alexa and I'm from Connecticut, can I call you old kid?"
Scared
My dad lost his job the same time I lost my compass
Depressed
and the same time I couldn't watch the sun rise and developed a fear of dying.
Anxious
I grew up excited to see the world.
Girlfriend
But then soon became afraid of it.
Ex-girlfriend
All the things that I wanted to see seemed so far away.
Student
Finding myself playing by their rules that I could never find the rulebook for.
Teammate
All that I ever wanted
Employee
seemed to out of reach
Best friend
of my small hands
Artist
And no one seemed to know my name.
Lonely

September 25th 1996. Starting the now 19 years nameless and small, my mother called me wonderful, my dad, baby girl, and the world called me a miracle when I survived.
Me and my many names have survived.

Once again, I stand. Owning up to the name that I was given that day. September 25th 1996. At that moment, no one knew my name, but it's just a matter of time before the whole world will not only know it, but praise it.

Alexa.