I lay in bed staring at the ceiling
My father by my side,
His face illuminated as he
Tucked me into bed
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” He asked
Maybe he hoped I’d say
Doctor
Lawyer
Engineer
I said
“Like you, dad!”
His face was brighter before
Fifteen years later
“What are you doing with your life?”
I hear through the phone
“I paid thousands to send you to college!”
“And this is what you do?”
“What are you doing with your life?”
“What do you want to be?”
“What do you want to achieve?”
The words pierce my skin
Like daggers
Tear me apart
As my soul crumples
Collapses
I’m not me anymore
I don’t know what I want to be
Or who I am
So I reply
“Like you, Dad.”
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