The next chapter

This is the year I grew up
I am 26

I could never feel in alignment with my age
or its behavioral standards
I was never immature
or irresponsible
but I could never shake off that feeling
that I am a child

Today I can no longer find that feeling
in my rib cage
No longer "too mature for my age",
No longer do I get a free pass for my youthful mistakes

This is the first time that I am 26
and feel like I am 26
for the most part at least

This is the year I grew up
and I feel as if I want to throw up

but I have been lucky enough
to not have had that stripped of me
I left little pieces behind
whenever I felt ready
and now I am faced with the final part
which I will have to lock inside
to visit every now and then
to look back to
but it will no longer define me

and it's the saddest goodbye
I ever had to say
in my whole life