This is When I Knew

When I was young,

I had an imagination many would dream of having themselves

I had so many best friends,

some we had only talked once,

I had unconditional love,

trust,

and hope

When I was young,

My parents were super heroes,

and my dreams, a reality

When I was young,

The best feeling was blowing out my birthday candles,

I'd close my eyes and see pattens with bright colors

I am a year older I'd think, how exciting

The next morning, I'd wake up,

the news blaring,

it talks about violence and crime,

things I had never cared to hear before

Suddenly, I close my eyes and see darkness

My mother,

stressing over college payments of my older siblings

My father,

works to pay off dept

I go to school,

smile at a classmate,

they turn their head

I'd walk up to them and ask their name,

their eyes glued to their phone

no answer,

no smile,

or even a quick glance upward

This is when I knew,

I knew nothing would be the same as it was,

no more carelessness,

no more automatic friendships

I had done something I can't reverse