16

16 years of age

15 dollars an hour

14 hours a week

13 blocks to the bus stop

12 steps up to the door

11 is the time on the clock

10 creaks as I slink upstairs

9 snores escape my mother's room

8 years since my father left

7 is the size of my well worn shoes

6 blisters they have bestowed today

5 hours to sleep tonight

4 little sisters to wake up to tomorrow

3 empty bottles of wine in the bin

2 elastics in my unwashed hair

1 loaf of stale bread

0 time for dreams