when she was a teenager,
things were harder still.
her days were spent,
trying to fit in,
anywhere she could.
and she spent all of her time,
with her "so-called" friends,
lip syncing to the top 40 count down,
and putting on pounds of make-up,
even though
it made her feel like someone that she wasn't.
and she watched her dad,
as he came home from work,
and instantly fell asleep,
as soon as he laid down on the couch.
and her mom called up the stairs,
to tell her it was time for dinner.
but her dad slept through the meal,
so they didn't eat as a family.
and they made small talk about their days,
and she drank water instead of milk,
because she read somewhere,
that it was better for her skin.
and after she was excused,
she would go up in her room,
and I.M. with her "friends",
and when it started getting late,
her mom would tell her to go to bed,
and kiss her on the forehead,
and turn off all the lights.
and when she crawled into her bed,
she didn't say her prayers,
because she was too busy,
trying to figure out
what she would wear,
the next day at school,
and if the friends she had tonight,
would still be there in the morning,
and things were harder still.