When I was 3, all I wished
Was a happy ending in my fairy-tales
Or to stop biting my stumpy
fingernails
Or to make my mom to put my hair in pigtails

When I was 5, all I wished
Was for daddy to catch me at the end of the slide
Or to be the most beautiful 'pillowcase' bride
Or to spend every moment playing outside

When I was 7, all I wished
Was to stay away from those smelly old boys
Or to get more barbies to play
with my other toys
Or to stop mom from asking to keep down the noise

When I was 9, all I wished
Was to marry a prince and be a princess
Or to wear the world's most beautiful dress
Or to achieve fame, fortune and success

When I was 11, all I wished
Was to have the prettiest smile and the best friend
Or to have unlimited money for me to spend
Or to fit in with the current fashion trend

When I was 13, all I wished
Was perfection,
No rejection,
And an amazing reflection

But

How did I go from a happy ending
To always pretending?
How did I go from playing with all those toys
To trying to constantly please boys?
How did I go from wanting a best friend
To trying to make myself mend?

Now I'm 14, all I wish
Is to go back and once more be young
When the worst insult was to stick out your tongue
And I promise this time I will cherish every day
I won't go back to wishing my life away.