摘要：
Foreword:Childhoodisamagicaltime,filledwithimaginationandwonder.It'satimewheretheworld... Foreword:
Childhoodisamagicaltime,filledwithimaginationandwonder.It'satimewheretheworldisfullofendlesspossibilities,wheredreamscanbecomeareality.However,aswegrowolder,wemustsaygoodbyetothistimeofinnocenceandembracethechallengesandresponsibilitiesofadulthood.Inthisstory,wefollowthejourneyofayounggirlasshemustcometotermswithleavingbehindherchildhood.Sarahwasabrightandbubblyyounggirlwholovednothingmorethanplayingmake-believeandrunningaroundwithherfriends.Shewouldspendhoursplayingdress-upandpretendingtobeaprincessoranastronaut,alwayslostinherownworldofimagination.However,Sarah'sidyllicchildhoodwassoonabouttocometoanendasshereachedtheageoften.Herparentssatherdownonedayandtoldherthattheyweremovingtoanewtown,andshewouldhavetoleavebehindallherfriendsandfamiliarsurroundings.
Sarahwasdevastatedbythenews,andshecouldn'timaginelifewithoutherbestfriendsbyherside.Shespentmanynightscryingherselftosleep,wishingthingscouldgobacktothewaytheywere.Asthedayofthemoveapproached,Sarah'semotionswerearollercoasterride.Ononehand,shewasexcitedabouttheprospectofnewadventuresandmeetingnewpeople.Butontheotherhand,shewasterrifiedofleavingbehindeverythingsheknewandloved.Finally,thedayarrived,andSarahsaidgoodbyetoheroldhome,heroldschool,andmostimportantly,heroldfriends.Shehuggedthemtight,promisingtostayintouchandneverforgetaboutthem.AsSarahandherfamilydroveawayfromherchildhoodhome,shecouldn'thelpbutfeeladeepsadnessinherheart.Shelookedoutthewindowandwatchedasthefamiliarstreetsandhousesfadedaway,andsheknewthatherlifewouldneverbethesameagain.
ThefirstfewmonthsinhernewtownweretoughforSarah.Shestruggledtomakenewfriends,andtheunfamiliarsurroundingsmadeherfeellostandalone.Shemissedheroldlifeterriblyandlongedforthecomfortoffamiliarity.However,astimewenton,Sarahslowlybegantoadapttohernewlife.Shemadenewfriends,discoverednewhobbies,andevenfoundanewfavoriteicecreamparlor.Lifewasstartingtolookup.Butdespiteallthegoodthingshappeninginherlife,Sarahcouldn'tshakeoffthefeelingofnostalgiaforherchildhood.Shemissedthecarefreedaysofplayinginthepark,ridingherbike,andnothavingtoworryaboutanything.Oneday,whilegoingthroughsomeoldboxesintheattic,Sarahstumbleduponsomeofheroldtoysandphotoalbums.Assheflippedthroughthepages,memoriesfloodedback,andshefeltapangofsadnessinherheart.
ItwasthenthatSarahrealizedthatshewassayinggoodbyetoherchildhood.Shewasleavingbehindallthosehappymemoriesandmomentsthathadshapedwhoshewas.Butatthesametime,sheknewthatitwastimetomoveonandembracethepersonshewasbecoming.TherealizationhitSarahhard,andshespentmanynightsreflectingonherpastandcontemplatingherfuture.Shewasscaredofwhatlayahead,butsheknewthatshehadtofaceithead-on.AsSarahgrewolder,shebegantorealizethatgrowingupwasn'tallbad.Thereweremanynewexperiencestobehad,challengestoovercome,andgoalstoachieve.Shestartedtoenjoytheindependenceandfreedomthatcamewithbeingayoungadult.Butdespiteallthenewfoundfreedom,Sarahneverforgotaboutherchildhood.Shewouldoftenreminisceaboutthehappymemoriesandmomentsthathadshapedherintothepersonshewastoday.
Yearswentby,andSarahgraduatedfromhighschool,wenttocollege,andgotajob.Shehadachievedsomuch,butshestillfeltadeeplongingforthesimplicityofherchildhood.Oneday,whiletakingawalkinthepark,Sarahsawagroupofchildrenplayingmake-believe,justlikesheusedtodowhenshewastheirage.Asshewatchedthem,shefeltasenseofwarmthinherheart,andsherealizedthateventhoughshehadgrownup,shecouldstillholdontothemagicofchildhood.Fromthatdayon,Sarahmadeaconsciousefforttoincorporatesomeofthejoyandwonderofchildhoodintoheradultlife.Shewouldvisitamusementparks,watchDisneymovies,andevenoccasionallydressupasherfavoritesuperhero.Sarahhadcometounderstandthatgrowingupwasn'taboutleavingbehindherchildhoodcompletely.Itwasaboutembracingthepersonshewasbecomingwhilestillholdingontothemagicofherpast.
Andso,asSarahlookedbackonherlife,sherealizedthatsayinggoodbyetoherchildhoodhadbeenbittersweet.Itwasanecessarystepinherjourneytowardsadulthood,butitwasalsoatimeofgreatloss.Butintheend,Sarahwasgratefulforallthememoriesandexperiencesthathadshapedherintothepersonshewastoday.Shewasproudofwhoshehadbecomeandknewthatshehadabrightfutureaheadofher.Andso,asSarahtookonefinallookbackatherchildhood,shesmiledandwhispered,"Thankyouforthemagic,thejoy,andthewonder.Iwillneverforgetyou,butit'stimeformetomoveforward."Sarahwalkedaway,herheadheldhigh,andherheartfilledwithhopeandexcitementforthefuture.Shewasreadytotakeonwhateverchallengeslayahead,knowingthatshehadthemagicofchildhoodwithinher,always.
