were to become

we grew up quietly

no one noticed the exact day

when life stopped being simple

one day

happiness was a chupa chup after school

a birthday in class with extra candies

running to the door when dad came home

helping mom in the kitchen

and thinking that cake was the best thing ever made

and then

somewhere

things shifted

happiness became marks

plans

deadlines

expectations

people started having opinions

and somehow

they started mattering

we began thinking before speaking

comparing before feeling

worrying before even trying

life did not become worse

just different

earlier

we wanted small things

and got them easily

now

we want bigger things

and question if we deserve them

earlier

we just were

now

we are always trying to become

a better student

a better person

a better version of ourselves

and in between all that

we are also just trying

to stay okay

this rat race

i wish it was not this hard to survive

i wish it was easier to breathe inside it

and yet

there is something about it

something strangely alive

in trying

in falling behind

in catching up again

it feels like we are part of something

but still

i think life was not meant

to be survived like this

it was meant

to be lived

maybe that is what growing up is

not losing happiness

just learning

it does not come as easily anymore

but still

sometimes

in small moments

in random memories

in simple things

it comes back

and for a second

everything feels

like before