Foreword:
Lookingbackonourlives,weoftenfindourselveslingeringonmomentsfromouryouth.Thosecarefreedaysoflaughterandinnocence,beforetheharshrealitiesoftheworldcreptinandtaintedouridealism.Welongtorelivethosememories,tobaskinthewarmthofnostalgiaandforgetthestrugglesofthepresent.Butwhathappenswhenweareforcedtoconfrontthosememorieshead-on,andareremindedthatourpastisnotalwaysasidyllicasweremember?
Chapter1:
AsIwalkeddownthestreet,thefamiliarsightsandsoundsofmyhometownfloodedmysenses.IthadbeenyearssinceIhadreturned,buteverycornerseemedtoholdamemoryforme.TheoldbakerywhereIusedtobuycroissantsonmywaytoschool.TheparkwhereIplayedhide-and-seekwithmyfriends.Andofcourse,thehousewhereIgrewup.
Chapter2:
Ipausedoutsidethegate,takinginthefamiliarfacadeofthetwo-storyhouse.ItlookedsmallerthanIremembered,butperhapsthatwasbecauseIwastallernow.Ihesitated,unsurewhetherIwantedtogoinside.Afterall,ithadbeenyearssinceIhadseenmyparents.Wouldtheyevenrecognizeme?
Chapter3:
Finally,Imusteredupthecouragetoringthedoorbell.Thesoundechoedthroughtheemptyhouse,makingmefeelevenmorealone.ButthenIheardfootstepscomingtowardsthedoor,andmyheartleaptwithanticipation.
Chapter4:
Thedoorcreakedopen,revealingafamiliarface.Mymother'seyeswidenedinsurpriseasshetookinmyappearance."Isthatreallyyou?"sheasked,hervoicetrembling.
Chapter5:
Inodded,toochokeduptospeak.Mymotherpulledmeintoatightembrace,andIfeltalltheloveandwarmthIhadmissedforsolong.TearsstreameddownmyfaceasIclungtoher,feelinglikeachildagain.
Chapter6:
Afterwehadsettleddown,mymotherledmetothelivingroom.EverythinglookedjustasIrememberedit,fromthefloralcurtainstotheoldcouchwhereIusedtocurlupwithabook.Buttherewassomethingdifferentabouttheatmosphere,asenseofuneasethathungintheair.
Chapter7:
Mymothersatdownnexttome,claspingmyhandinhers."There'ssomethingIneedtotellyou,"shesaid,hereyesbrimmingwithtears."Yourfatherpassedawayafewmonthsago."
Chapter8:
IfeltlikeIhadbeenpunchedinthegut.Myfather,whohadalwaysbeenapillarofstrengthandsupport,wasgone?Itwastoomuchtobear.
Chapter9:
Aswesatinsilence,Ifeltawaveofmemorieswashoverme.Memoriesofmyfatherteachingmetorideabike,ofhimcheeringmeonatmyschoolplays,ofhimholdingmetightaftermyfirstheartbreak.Itallseemedsodistantnow,likeadreamIcouldneverfullygrasp.
Chapter10:
Asthedayspassed,Ifoundmyselflostinmemories.Memoriesofmychildhood,ofmyteenageyears,ofallthemomentsthathadshapedmeintothepersonIwastoday.Andyet,forallthenostalgiaandwarmththeybrought,therewasalsoatingeofregret.
Chapter11:
RegretforallthetimesIhadtakenmyparentsforgranted,forallthemomentsIhadmissedbecauseIwastoobusychasingmyowndreams.RegretfornottellingthemhowmuchIlovedthem,howgratefulIwasforeverythingtheyhaddoneforme.
Chapter12:
Oneday,asIwaslookingthrougholdphotoalbums,Icameacrossapictureofmyselfatmyhighschoolgraduation.Iwasbeamingwithpride,myparentsbymyside.Andyet,asIlookedcloser,IsawsomethingintheirfacesthatIhadmissedbefore.
Chapter13:
Alookofsadness,ofresignation.Theyknewthen,evenifIdidn't,thatthiswasthebeginningoftheend.Theendofmychildhood,theendofourtimetogetherasafamily.
Chapter14:
ItwasthenthatIrealizedthatourmemoriesofyoutharenotalwaysasrosyaswethink.Theyaretingedwithregret,withtheknowledgethatwecannevergobacktothattime,nomatterhowmuchwelongforit.
Chapter15:
Butperhaps,thereisasilverliningtothisbittersweetrealization.Perhapsitisaremindertocherishthemomentswehavenow,toholdourlovedonescloseandnevertakethemforgranted.
Chapter16:
AsIsatintheparkwhereIusedtoplayasachild,watchingthechildrenrunandlaughanddream,Ifeltasenseofpeacesettleoverme.Itwasasifallmyregretsandworrieshadmeltedaway,leavingonlythewarmthofthesunonmyfaceandthesoundofchildren'slaughterinmyears.
Chapter17:
Iclosedmyeyesandletmyselfdriftbacktothattime,wheneverythingseemedpossibleandnothingcouldstopme.Itwasafleetingmoment,butonethatIwouldcherishforever.
Chapter18:
AsImademywaybacktomyparents'house,Ifeltasenseofclosure.Ourmemoriesofyouthmaybebittersweet,buttheyarealsoprecious.Theyremindusofwhowewere,andwhowecouldbeagainifweonlyletourselvesdream.
Chapter19:
AsIhuggedmymothergoodbye,Ifeltasenseofgratitudeforallthememoriesshehadgivenme.Memoriesofloveandlaughter,ofsupportandencouragement.Memoriesthatwouldstaywithmeforever.
Chapter20:
AsIwalkedawayfromthehouse,IknewthatIwasnotthesamepersonwhohadarrivedherejustafewdaysago.Ihadgrown,Ihadlearned,Ihadremembered.
Chapter21:
Andyet,asIlookedbackonelasttime,Iknewthatmymemoriesofyouthwouldalwaysbewithme.TheywouldalwaysbeapartofwhoIwas,andwhoIwouldbecome.
Chapter22:
Forbetterorforworse,ourmemoriesofyouthshapeusinwayswemayneverfullyunderstand.Butifweembracethem,ifweletthemguideusandinspireus,theycanalsobeasourceofstrengthandhopeforwhateverthefuturemayhold.
