5 years old
Sticky little fingers
Grasped on your little brothers arm
Giggling, you both tumble on to the grassy field
You and him playing for hours spinning in circles as you sing "we all fall down"
You go home shortly after
Due to the nausea caused from spinning
And stomachaches
7 years old
Your first bike
You ride up and down the street for hours giggling with your friends
Spending your miniscule allowance on candy and soda pop
You all go home later due to stomachaches
9 years old
Your parents still worked and you were sick
But they couldn't leave you home
You went to school regardless
Mid day, after lunch
You went to gym
And threw up
Due to
Stomachaches
10 years old
You were in class
A kid told a humiliating rumor about you
You couldn't handle it
It wasn't even true
You lied to the office to get away from class
Due to
Stomachaches
11 years old
Your dad is in the hospital
He was in a fire
He had massive burns metastasizing on his skin
His hair scorched off
Revealing his tapestry yellow skin
You have to leave
Due to stomachaches
12 years old
You have too many secrets now
How did you change so much in a year
You felt old almost
Every time someone is hurt or you do something wrong
You have to leave
Due to stomachaches
13 years old
You begin to feel it more often
But the idea hasn't sunk in
You're on a spiral downwards
You didn't realise
What you could do to yourself
You get out of school,
And you don't get out of bed
Due to stomachaches
14 years old
Life is moving in circles
You still miss school
You still lay in bed
Not moving
You don't sleep
It's worse than its ever been
But you crave it
You crave the moment anyone makes you feel guilty or nervous
Because you have learned to love the way your body reacts
Due to stomachaches
15 years old
Logic sets in
Now it's time to
Sink or swim
-Chloe
