Germs That Punch

I didn't realize that the car rides with too loud music

That trickled out of the gaps of the windows

Would become so few and far between

I didn't realize that the last minute overnighters

That made parents grind their teeth and sigh in exasperation, exhaust, and maybe eagerness for a night alone

Would also dwindle out

I didn't realize that at school

People's personalities slowly became withdrawn like a turtle in its shell

The little germs that ran marathons around the world to punch us in the face and tell us that we weren't appreciating life enough

So many things 

                        I just

                                 Didn’t

                                             Realize