Grown-Ups

When I was little,
I always wanted to be pretty,
and smart
and confident
and independent
like the grown-ups.

When I was in elementary school,
I always wanted to have the patience,
and the calm
and the grace
and all the answers
just like the grown-ups.

When I was in middle school,
I always wanted to know how,
and when
and where
and why
little girls like me suddenly
became grown-ups.

Now I am in high school,
and I realize that there is no one moment,
one night
one breath
one second
when these things happen.

Now I realize that
there are no grown ups.