Grow Up

When I was young,
I knew a girl.
She was so warm and bright,
so I asked her that question
that all children must answer.

'What do you want to be
when you grow up?'

Her eyes lit up with joy
and she jumped with excitement.

'A dancer!
No, an astronaut!
Wait, President!
A scientist!
I'll be famous
and in movies!
My name
will be everywhere!'

She listed so many more
until she finally just smiled
and looked at me with eyes filled
with child-like wonder.

'I could be anything I wanted.'

Years and years later,
I saw the same girl again
but her eyes no longer
lit up with wonder.

I asked her,
'What did you end up being?'

She smiled the hollow smile
that adults have when talking to the young.

'Not what I wanted to be
when I was young.'

Nothing more was said on the matter
but I could see that there was no more wonder
in the eyes that once shone so brightly.