On the outside, a boy, sweet and innocent.
On the inside, a man, wise and scarred.
With a body so young,
yet a mind so old.
He takes each minute to hold.
He is twelve on the inside, with nothing to fear,
but aged on the inside with memories so near.

Surrounded by death and hardship so young.
Forced to grow old, with pressure to bare.
Yearning for a life,
one that would never be possible.
Lessons have been learned
to which no one could relate, and he has
forced his own mind into a frivolous debate.

Why him? Why now?
So many questions, that will never be answered.
Only he can be his own lifeline.
All this only shows his strengths,
fights his weaknesses.
With every day he is stronger,
a better man than ever before.
He is different, he is bold, he is brave, he is caring.
He loves and he thinks like none others can.
He has beaten the odds time and again.

They said he couldn’t,
they said he was bound to break.
But he showed life's lessons,
are always here to take.
He grasps each moment,
holds it to close to his heart.
Because you don’t know what you have
‘till it’s gone.
Stronger than most, wiser than many.
He is twelve on the outside with nothing to fear,
but aged on the inside with memories so near.