Woman

At 18, you will become a woman

They say

But what about at 17?

When you look 18 and that means its ok for a stranger to pinch your ass on his way by

And what about at 15

When the howls and the cat calls from people driving past make you feel like a prostitute and not a girl on her way to school

What about 13?

When your long legs suddenly become sexy legs to wandering eyes and that peeking bra strap gets you detention for being a distraction from boys learning

I became a woman

At 13, when I learned in school despite seeing boxers escaping baggy jeans

At 15, when I earned my black belt and the confidence that is built along the way

At 17, when I started saying NO. instead of offering nice excuses

And at 18, when the world said I did