We've all heard it before:

growing up is hard to do.

How hard it was going to be, though,

was something I never really knew.

Things were pretty different,

one, two, three years ago, and so on.

Family, school, even friends,

but it's true when they say you don't know what you had until it's gone.

I shouldn't have taken those moments for granted:

NYC trips, endless laughs, car rides with the music blasting,

high school events, concerts, the anticipation of what's to come.

Oh, how I was a fool to think these things would be everlasting.

A lot of friends have stayed, yes,

and others have come and gone.

But what makes me fearful, more than ever,

is losing those that are close to my heart and a line starts to be drawn.

Life happens and situations occur,

leading us to make harder decisions time after time.

Heartache ensues, pain that is indescribable,

and suddenly everything that's happened feels it took place in another lifetime.

This has happened to me more than once before-

some of it was my fault, and the rest was way out of my reach.

But that's the thing...

maybe that is exactly what growing up is supposed to teach.

I am very blessed, I know this well,

God has given me great people in this life.

Without them, I am nothing and love is no more,

but when you lose touch with the ones you adore... the feeling is colder than the blade of a knife.

But this is required, part of our great plan,

I've soon come to know;

we may rekindle a flame, later on, wave to each other at a passing glance now,

because this, too, is pivotal in our journey to grow.

It's time to move on, it's time that I accept these moments are behind me,

it's time to stop looking for a coverup.

It's time to reflect, time to give the "see you later,"

it's time for me to grow up.