Growing up is...

Weeks of prayers, of hopes, of efforts-

Nothing worked.

Years of memories, years of life-

Lost.

The best man I ever knew-

Gone.

Growing up is... standing by a graveside, listening. 

Listening to the sound of taps

To the sound of empty words about a life that ended too soon

To the sound of your heartbeat in your ears.

Growing up is... hurting.

Hurting like realizing your world is ending,

Hurting like hearing people laugh in remembrance. 

Growing up is... waiting months

But picking up the guitar he gave you

And starting to play.

Growing up is... holding the books he got you close to your heart

And letting yourself cry

Growing up is... petting his dog

Seeing his grave again

Wearing his glasses in the hopes

You can see the world like he did.

Growing up is... knowing it's okay to move on,

And knowing that moving on

Does not mean forgetting.