Fear of Ending Up Just Like Them

She got started
As a professional model
At eight years old
In New York City.
When she was twelve,
Her parents moved to Texas,
But she chose to stay behind
And rented an apartment.
She continued her modeling
While going to junior high school,
And had no idea
That it was unusual or illegal
For a twelve year old
To live alone, work
And rent her own apartment.
After nine months, however,
She decided to move to Texas
To be with her parents,
So she packed all her things
And had them shipped,
Then she bought a bus ticket
And headed there herself.
On the trip to Texas,
She encountered a variety
Of transient characters,
Many of whom insisted
On telling her their story
Whether she wanted
To hear it or not.
She experienced
That she didn’t belong
In their world
And made up her mind
She was never going to
End up like any of them.
Sixteen years later,
She has a Ph.D.
And two Masters degrees,
Is the CEO of her own
Dot.com company.
The source of her
Extraordinary drive
And the motivation
That has taken her
To the top of the business
And financial world
Are the fears of
An independent
But frightened
Twelve year old girl.
Though she is
Light years removed
From the people
She met on that bus
So many years before,
The irrational fear of losing
Everything she has
And becoming just like them
Still drives her on.
Only by confronting those fears
Can she relax and enjoy
What she has earned.