“Blow a wish,” they said.
I look up at the endless night sky,
that seems to stretch and stretch.
Its elasticity does not annoy me,
instead, I look up at my favourite things
and see them shine.
I laugh with delight and think,
from now on, the spotlight is mine,
after 19 years in this existence
after 228 months of being the little sister
after 6935 days of being the last one left
in a litter full of boys in their early thirties.
2190 days and now I am free.
2190 days and now I can run.
I can run and never look back,
run and feel the wind in my hair,
run and smile to myself thinking,
“From now on I am headed for
the nation of Words and Wonder.”
In the aftermath, school feels ephemeral,
like a 45 minute car ride,
and my future feels infinite,
a train ride that will last forevermore
“How did we get here?”
I ask my reflection.
“I do not know.”
She replies,
“All I know is
19 candles flaring up.”
