Remember when our parents told us not to grow up too fast?
When “stupid” and “shut up” were cuss words,
when a boy being mean to you meant he liked you
when being tripled-dog-dared to give someone a hug gave you butterflies
when you thought you loved all your crushes
when your greatest fear was getting the “cheese touch”
when all the kids went back inside when it got dark out
when someone said “poop” and everyone around giggled
when sleep was your worst enemy
when your biggest idol was your teacher
when a gold star was the only validation you needed
when a bandaid could fix all your problems?
Remember when you couldn’t wait to just be ten, then thirteen, then sixteen?
When getting in an accident meant scraping your knee, not the bumper of your car
when parties only happened for someone’s birthday
when “FOMO” was just a meaningless term that rhymed with slow mo
when thinking of the future brought hope, not anxiety
when you said you had a date, play was always in front of it
Remember when we dreamed freshman year of finally becoming a senior?
Remember how everyone said those four years would fly by?
Remember when your last first day was here before you could tell them they were wrong?
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Inspired by VSCO post, “Soda Becomes Vodka”
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Photo Credit: matherhospital.org