@ Thirteen

At thirteen, I needed school clothes

Friends

Braces

Likes on my facebook posts

a bike

a boy to like me

the best halloween costume the world had ever seen

At thirteen, you need chemotherapy

you needed steroids

you needed to lose the water weight from your medications

you needed hair

you needed someone to understand

to hold your hand

to be there.

And I didn't understand.

Today. I decided to pursue a career in medicine

To be the pediatric oncologist you needed

Not the man who coldly told you that Death was at your doorstep

Not the man who shaved your head without calling you "beautiful"

Not the man who never knew what it was to be a child

At thirteen

Who needed school clothes

Friends

Braces

Likes on their facebook posts

a bike

a boy to like them

the best halloween costume the world had ever seen

But I do.

Now, I do.

And I see how a thirteen year old could be a hero

An innovator

A genius

A golden heart

A brave explorer in a dark, dark world that needed a light like you

And you inspire me

And I will be the pediatric oncologist that even hero/innovator/genius/golden heart/explorers like you

Will need

Thank you for showing me how to be what this world needs.