It’s a place where we relax
Where our favourite food is made
Where you could be yourself
We thought our parents were superheroes
With those cool super powers
More amazing than the others
More perfect than perfect
That they would love us
No matter who or what we are
Forever and ever
But then we get older
More mature
More mysteries uncovered
In realizing that our parents weren’t perfect
We realize that they made more mistakes than we did
That those times when they yelled at us
And we thought we did something wrong
But it wasn’t that after all
It was work
Stress
Anxiety
Eating them up
Inside out
We then pull off their super hero cape
Rip it into a million pieces
Then put it into the box
Of unreal things
Getting older is wondering
How much did my parents sacrifice
Just for me?
Just so I could be happy?
Those times when they bought you ice cream
That time when they gave you that toy for your birthday
You realize they gave up so much
Oh, so damn much
Just to see a smile on your face
That innocent, bright smile
Then you stay up at night
Would life be better for them
If I never happened?
Would they be able to pay those bills and taxes
If I wasn’t there?
Those sleepless nights
Those tear-stained pillows
That’s exactly what you think
Over and over
Again and again
Getting older
Means more problems for yourself
Realizing who you are
And your place in this world
And then you tell your parents
But instead of hugging you
Telling you it’s okay
They yell at you
Give you a lecture
Or just say it’s a phase
But it isn’t
And there go the deep sleeping
And welcome the crying nights
Endless
Hurting
They said they would love us
No matter what
Why are they yelling then?
Why are they trying to change me?
Why don’t they understand?
You want to scream
Cry
Yell at them
But you can’t
Because there isn’t a point
Then you feel like
The string connecting you and your parents
Is breaking apart
You feel like you aren’t close enough with them anymore
Unlike when you were younger
They would take you to the mall
You would laugh and smile
And they would too
But now?
It feels numb
Different
You don’t feel happy unlike before
And you notice they aren’t happy too
You want to get closer with them
You try and try
But you can’t
There’s just something missing in the puzzle
Then you give up
Don’t bother anymore
School is your escape
With friends and teachers
You’re happy there
Because they understand
They don’t care who or what you are
They let you be who you are
So you don’t have to think about them
Those thoughts are pulled out
But then you go home
And think and think
Why aren’t they happy?
Why aren’t I happy?
I want to be younger
Just to see them smile
That real smile
You don’t know what’s real anymore
You don’t know if that smile if even true
Is it fake and forced?
Who knows
You don’t even know if your own smile is real
You know you are happy
When in school
Your escape
But it doesn’t matter anymore
Because the past is done
You’re already growing old
It’s too late to fix it
But you try
Despite knowing you can’t do anything
About your age and happiness