oh to be young again, sitting on the cracked pavement and counting the cars with chalk-stained hands. scraping our knees on the gravel because mom always said i was clumsy, even with my best shoes on. fishing in the creek and falling in headfirst. the afternoon sun rays were full of love, and oh how my little heart took it for granted. i wasn't aware of the ache i would feel as i grew older. the yearning for the bee stings and the dirt caked on my feet and the hide-and-go-seek games after dark. i'd like to think i left part of my soul there, a little girl wandering in the woods trying to make all of it last. it left me too soon, and i don't know if the sun rays still have love for me.