when I was a kid
I was told I was nice because I was reliable
said I was mature for my age
and that my parents were the luckiest to have me
when I was a kid
I had to wake up earlier to tend to my younger siblings
clean for them, cook for them, do their laundry, and send them to school
my parents were busy trying to get us by; that's why
when I was a kid
I had to witness how my dad hurt my mom
and how my mom had to go
leaving me as the parent when I needed one too
when I was a kid
I was awarded as the most responsible student
because even when it was stormy and I was the only one left in the classroom, I would finish all my notes because no one would go to fetch me—not my mom, nor my dad
when I was a kid
I cried when my dad questioned why I couldn't get a perfect score on the exam I studied so hard for
aside from being the second parent of my younger siblings, I was expected to be at the top of my class
I didn't know being a kid held so much responsibility
I didn't know being a kid required so much
like having to dream in order to achieve
and having to achieve in order to give
as being able to give makes a kid able to be loved
when I was a kid
I thought that once I became an adult,
the world would be kinder to me
as I tried to be the kindest my whole life
but since the world doesn't seem to work in my favor,
I just try to be an adult
that my younger self would not hesitate to run to
whatever situation she may be in
Article: Judy Ann Celetaria
Illustration: Alyzza Marie Sales
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