Growing Up.

I'm growing up today.

Living life means meeting the most wonderful, important people in your life.

Growing up means leaving them behind.

Growing up means packing your entire life in 3 suitcases. 

Growing up means learning that people in the real world are not nice,

and growing up means learning how to deal with them.

Growing up means entertaining the possibility that school might not continue past the winter.

Growing up means telling your little sister "be good" for the last time for a long time.

Growing up means sharing last laughs and cuddles and brownies.

Growing up means saying goodbye in the rain.

Growing up means paying close attention to every last thing that happens on that last day.

Growing up means getting life advice.

Growing up means framing memories because growing up means causing the fear that you'll forget.

Growing up means hugging pets and pillows that will be gone in the morning.

Growing up means finally leaving that small awful town to go somewhere you can change the world,

and growing up means looking at yourself in the mirror when you get there and knowing that's exactly what you're going to do.

Growing up means laying in bed in his shirt and her shorts with ghosts of kisses on your cheek and hugs on your waist.

Growing up means pain, but none greater than the pain that will finally be relieved by getting where you were really meant to go.

Today, tomorrow morning, forever, that is what I am doing.

I am growing up.