After this, the world turns from nerf to steel. Brilliantly said. I’m not familiar with the song (I’ll look it up) but you set the scene perfectly.

a nice memory, and the curl that straightens later, being stubborn in youth, is the perfect analogy. :)

There’s a real sense of something here. I can’t put a tag on it, but it’s that feeling of being on the cusp, of breaking out.

Stage contexts always work well for me – in this, I couldn’t help but see the link between the fact that, after high school, you can’t just be the emcee any more – you’re thrust centre stage in your own life…

Might not have been the intention, but it resonated for me – good work, the little details (as mentioned above) make it – MH :)