When she walked into that auditorium,
she knew it was her moment.

Her moment to be seen
to become one with the stage
and the audience.

It was her moment,
not her parents',
nor her sister's,
this day was hers.

The world would look upon her
with gratification and self-longing
for their better years.

Soon she would leave that stage,
soon she would no longer be
their little girl.

She was there last chance for youth
but she was changing into a woman
and they could not stop her.

The days she dreamed of leaving
her safety and security of home
were here in the present.

She stood on that stage
knowing all those eyes were on her
as her name was called
and resonated throughout the auditorium.

It was her moment,
just like the others had theirs.

All going in different directions,
even though they followed the same line
of handshakes and smiles and photographs.

She walked across that stage
proud and smiling,
just like the others,
but it was her moment,
that's all that mattered.