The Inner Child

Then somehow, we actually grew up. And adulthood turned out to be much more complicated than we imagined. Looking back, childhood suddenly feels so simple. Less bitter. Less heavy. There are days when, instead of wanting to grow older, I find myself wishing I could become a child again. All those game consoles I could never afford when I was young—I can buy them now. So I did. And now they sit on the shelf collecting dust, because I no longer have the time to play them. The comic books are different. I still read them in piles, just as I always did. And no matter how old I become, there is still something about the taste of childhood snacks, the sight of old toys, and those small familiar pleasures that remains impossibly sweet. Perhaps growing up does not mean leaving childhood behind completely. Maybe somewhere inside us, that child is still there—quietly holding on to the things that once made the world feel simple, exciting, and full of possibility.