I grew up, to the seemingly eternal cuddle of deep pamper.
I grew up, to the fragility of growing up,
To the brittle air, to the 'confident' upbringing.!
 I grew up, to the musings of critics,
Paused in the tangent of 'donts',
Harmed in the struggle to meet the 'dos'.
I grew up, to the shuddering touch of fear,
To the reluctance of 'a hold'.!
I grew up, amidst ignorant waves,
That baffled the shores consecutively,
Too occupied to look at the observers.
I grew up, among the crowd, who demanded a stranger from me.
But i grew up. As I watched myself,
Shift my gaze from playful innocence to hope, to fear,
 to suspicion, to happiness, to cries, 
to secrets, to ignorance, to solitude... to me.!
I grew up.

-mumthaaz