Homecoming

Chapter 3

And why not? There were words I woke up with in the morning. The idea of moving home seemed more than real to me after waking up. For a while, I felt like I had gone crazy because I was surprised by my own determination. I realized quite clearly that it is in man's power to create or protect his own happiness.

I can do it. I will bring meaning and anticipation back to my life. These thoughts got me out of bed incredibly early. There was still a deep silence throughout the house as I slipped into the kitchen to make fresh coffee. I turned on the coffee maker, and while the coffee was ready, I devoured two honeysuckles.

I moved into the living room, where I turned on the TV at the lowest volume and looked at one of the Christmas tales that had just flown. I sipped my coffee slowly as my father's voice came from behind me.

"What are you scaring about here in time?" he asked me sleepily. "Why don't you actually sleep?"

"I couldn't sleep," I shrugged innocently.

"Is something bothering you?"

"I was just wondering what to do next," I admitted openly.

My father appeared in the living room door and turned in my direction with curiosity in his eyes. "It sounds interesting. Give me a second, let me jump for a cup of coffee, too. "

"All right," I said calmly.

"So what's going on," he went straight to the point as he sat in a chair across from me.

"I decided to quit my job and move to Manchester."

There was silence for a few long seconds, which made me a little nervous because it was unusual in my father's case. He always had an emergency response on hand, but now he was just suspectively measuring me from head to toe. It was starting to run cold down my back.

"Do you think that's a stupid idea?" I broke the frightening silence.

"That's - that's great," he finally snapped, and a stone fell from my heart.

"Actually, it was Caroline's idea," I said, shrugging.

"And do you want it too?" he looked at me expectantly.

I nodded. "I think it could help me start over. I am selling an apartment and I thought that until I found something new, I could stay here with you if it didn't bother you. "

"Why should it bother us?" he looked confused.

"I'm sure you're used to your privacy and the silence you have here," I said confidently.

"But come on, of course you can stay here as long as you want," he exclaimed excitedly. "Normally I'm looking forward to it," he winked at me.

"And I can imagine why," I moaned.

"Why?" he asked me, complete innocence in his eyes.

"Because you're bored of pulling only your mom," I jokingly snapped, which my father laughed out loud.

"That too," he grinned, "but above all, he'll be happier here."

"Thank you," I replied.

"You can count on me," his voice softened. "I'll be happy to help you move, find a new apartment, or whatever you want, honey," he walked over to me and hugged me tightly. "I'm glad to have you closer. Just wait until mom finds out. He will be happy without himself."

After Christmas and New Year's celebrations, things took a turn for the worse. I was returning to London with renewed vigor and the knowledge that I had drawn a rough line in my life so far. My decision to return to my hometown was final and everyone accepted it more than enthusiastically.