Excited is how she feels,
As she watches the hands on her clock
Move closer and closer to midnight.
She knows she has made it,
Lived to be another year older
Even as many had doubted her.
Goosebumps cover her shaking arms,
She is so proud of herself
Until the clock strikes 12.
Then all of a sudden she feels like Cinderella,
All the magic of the night has disappeared
Leaving her to be the same sad girl she was before.
Only now she feels worse,
Knowing she had a taste of wonder
Fearing she will never have it again.
Not sure of what to do next,
She waits for someone to acknowledge her
To let her know her life is valued.
Instead the same thing as before happened again,
She was left alone to sing the saddest birthday song to herself
As she whispered "Hello 19"

-ARI