That Forgotten Promise
Twirling in tutus
Gap teeth and freckled noses
Popsicle stained purple tongues
Giggles chasing through the house
Tag with imaginary friends
Jumping to touch the ceiling
Flashlights glowing from under a blanket fort
Dragons and fairies dance across dreams
Playing with Jack Frost
Exploring with Peter Pan
Waiting for Santa
Singing our favorite songs
Tiny hands wrapped around daddy’s neck
Strong hands holding us up while we pretend to fly
A whispered promise in the night to never forget how to dream
How to laugh
How to smile
But now the tutus are drooping
Our teeth are white and straight
Our freckles are covered with makeup
Tongues feverishly cleaned
Daddy’s gone
No one to support us
We have to learn to support ourselves
The goal?
Don’t be heard
Seen
Smelled
Or noticed in any way
Any attention is bad attention
When did we become so high-strung?
So worried?
Pale and tired
A practiced smile
While we listen to judgmental comments
“You’re overweight.”
“You’re underweight.”
“You’re pale.”
“You’re weak. Workout more.”
“You look like a man. Too many muscles.”
“Too much makeup. Are you trying to hide how ugly you are?”
“Do you ever wear makeup? Men only like girls who try.”
Why do we care?
When did we start caring?
Where did all those days go?
The days of dress up
Stealing mom’s makeup
And strutting down the street with a grin, pulling at our lips, covered in too much lipstick
Getting giggles and compliments from neighbors
Now wanting attention is called being prideful
That forgotten promise
Lingers in the back of our mind
And I just want to know
Where did all those years go?
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