Pretty Mature - Girls

This is designed to be a spoken word piece/monologue or an editorial mission statement. It reframes "pretty" not as porcelain skin, but as wisdom earned; and "mature" not as an age, but as an energy. (A Manifesto)

They lied.

You have survived the party, the heartbreak, the promotion that didn't come, the love that left too early, and the love that stayed too long. And you are still here. Still pretty. Still growing. pretty mature girls

They have replaced "I’m sorry" with "Thank you for your patience." They have replaced "What will they think?" with "What do I require to sleep tonight?" This is designed to be a spoken word

She wears her age like a good leather bag. Scuffed, yes. Softened, yes. Worth more now than the day she bought it. You have survived the party, the heartbreak, the

They told you that "pretty" was for the girls in their twenties. The ones with the soft knees and the loud laughter. The ones who still believe a text message can change their life. And they told you that "mature" was a polite way of saying tired. A synonym for settled. A code word for forgivable wrinkles.

Not in spite of the years. Because of them.