ECHO OF NINETEEN

Nineteen. Ah, it feels good—yet it’s sad. This tender ache for all I’ve had: The quiet years, the noisy nights, The fading fears, the rising heights. There were days I didn’t understand, Nights I reached for someone’s hand. But even through the weight and rain, I’ve grown from shadow, bloomed through pain. Slowly but surely, I would find A reason to stay, a peace of mind. Not all at once—but piece by piece, The noise may rise, but so does peace. The essence of life—it hides, it shows, In the cracks where quiet courage grows. I'm simply a coward who is scared of running away, But that's what courage is,my courageous nineteenth, In love I gave and love I lost, In learning what each moment costs. My 19th? How far I have come. A war behind my smile, but still I run. Not perfect—just real. Just me. Becoming all I'm meant to be. Ah, it feels good to be 19.