Grow Up

People tell you to grow up all of your life.

Why can’t you be more mature? they ask with a scoff.

When will you stop being such a baby? they yell.

But I don’t see anything important about being a grown up.

Why should I act like there’s nothing fun in the world anymore?

Why would I want to live my life for someone else?

I just want to live my life how I want to.

And I just want to have fun!

I want to climb trees and hang from them upside-down.

I want to color outside of the lines.

I want to eat junk food and feed my vegetables to my dog.

I want to watch cartoons all day long.

I don’t want to go to school. .

I don’t want to learn to drive.

I don’t want to do chores.

I don’t want to be “responsible”.

Why can’t I just be a kid all of my life?

Why do I have to grow up at all?

Why do I have to be an adult?

But I know why I can’t be a kid anymore.

I need to face reality.

But if I face reality, I'm afraid I'll lose it.

If I face reality then I accept the facts.

I accept that I'm dying.

I accept that I might not live to see twenty.

I accept that I will only live for a few more years.

So since that’s reality, why can’t I live out the rest of my life the way I want?

Why can’t I be a kid for the rest of my life?

After all, that’s only going to be a couple of years more.