She craves a life of beauty,

a life made up only in her mind.

Real life is far from what she wants or expects,

achieving her goals seems so uncomplicated in her mind,

So simple,

but she doesn't even know where to start.

But how is she supposed to know?

She is only 16,

With so many dreams,

With so many fears.

The 5 year old,

Who wished only to see earth from outer space,

Who wished to see the stars, 

The same stars that her parents told her to reach for,

Has realized what she fantasized over,

Will only ever be that.

A fantasy.

She yearns to see outside of her childhood walls.

Her dreams,

Far too many to count,

Scratch at her ribs, begging to see the light of day.

Why does she dream at all?

If she can't have everything she wants,

how does she know when to give up and settle for what she already has? 

She fears

All we do is settle for less

and this the key to a life of unhappiness and regret.

So why does she dream at all?