By Shelby Armor

 

This faded picture is all I have left of my childhood,

the simple days of playing outside and enjoying the company of friends.

 

No longer do I look at the world with gleaming eyes,

instead my eyes are faint outlines of what I used to be–

 

Smudged fingerprints on childhood paintings

and once radiant bundles of energy reduced to this,

 

Reduced to working in a dim office and

depending on coffee for the energy I once had.

 

I’m no longer who I used to be,

but I never noticed those years slipping away from me.

 

Editor: Bella Bier