Home is where the heart is
In my eyes home is where you are welcomed in with open arms, surrounded
by people who love and care about you, who have your best interests at heart, who would
protect you like there is nothing left in the world to be protected but you
I remember the frosty sharp winter my parents pushed my buggy into my house for the first time
I remember the sweltering heat as I trudged home clasping my mother's hand after the first day
of school and I remember the cool breeze as I strolled home after my first day of secondary school
and soon it won't be long before the sun starts to disappear but not replaced by the moon,
replaced by ferocious gloomy clouds and misty silvery swirls enveloping the turquoise sky
and I will be outside carrying a large suitcase filled with my precious possessions with
tears rolling down my cheeks preparing to start the next chapter of my life
I am maturing with each passing day, getting to grips with reality and understanding the world
more and more but the sad reality is that I am a caged bird under full guardianship of my parents
They feed me and clothe me and have nurtured me all my life but sooner or later
one of us is going to have to be the one to unlock the cage, sooner or later they are
going to have to stop bubble-wrapping me, shielding me from the outside world
The outside world is risky yet rewarding, frightening yet fulfilling and slowly by slowly,
day by day, I will learn to fly and I will soar higher and higher, faster and faster
never looking back
never looking back
But I keep those memories of my family and friends stored in a beautiful case in my mind
fragile but guarded with my life
I will never forget the place I would always long to be, daydreaming about all day at school
I will never forget the place I took my first steps, said my first words
Those memories will only lift me higher, push me harder, take me further
Home is where my heart is
