A Girl in Her Youth

Youth. (noun.)

The period between childhood and adult age.

There is a somewhat beauty and innocence that comes with the word youth. But at the same time, there comes with it a sense of tragedy and loss through this thing we call life. At the ripe age of 21, I am in the prime of my youth—what a wondrous thing I take so often for granted.

I read a book a few years ago when I was at the edge of my teenage years, it was called Testament of Youth. A memoir, written by Vera Brittain herself on her experience of the First World War. It is with this memoir that she so often describes her youth being stolen not only from herself, but from the whole of her generation. She was just 21 years old when the War broke out; the same age as I am now, and yet, I will never experience my youthful years in the same way that she did. After finishing the book, it changed me in a way that I just couldn't seem to describe, even till this day. The way I look at the world, the kind of books that I read, love, life - it all changed. I was awakened.

And so, with this I say:

Here's to the young girl from Buxton who dreamed of becoming a writer when the War came and stole the youth she never got back. Here's to the youth of my Grandparents who are so much wiser than I will ever know. Here's to the youth of the Parents for without them I would not be here. Here's to the youth of my current generation, let us be the change we wish to see in the world.

And finally,

Here's to the young girl in her youth that still dreams of finding a love that will make her smile at the world and glow from the inside out.

And,

Here's to the youthful young men who still believe in the old ways of love that define the very meaning of chivalry, love letters and waking up in the sunday morning light.

Here are my tales of a girl in her youth.

~ Jessica Rae.