The Ugly Duckling

The ugly duckling was one of my favorite stories growing up

I felt the awkward growing pains as I bloomed from prepubescence to adolescence, the side-eye stares when I would get too excited  about something I enjoyed 

Learning to become something I was not to gain acceptance 

A fleeting feeling of validation that would be taken away for the slightest fault in normalcy and fitting-the-mold

This was something the Ugly Duckling struggled with as he tried to make himself palatable and wanted by his siblings 

But it was only when he accepted himself for who he was and became beautiful with age he was loved and accepted

As I grow older I'm pursued and adored but I find myself living at the beginning of the story

My self-esteem does not match my appearance 

But I am told to accept the compliments anyways