The Golden Rule 2: The One That Got Away

Homecoming

Ari felt as if she was in a rollercoaster ride as she walked inside her old home.

The first few minutes after walking past the front door was painful. It didn't hurt as much as she thought it would. But an ache shot through her chest seeing her childhood home, knowing the two people who once lived with her in that house were now gone.

As she walked through each corner of the house, the initial pain the old memories brought slowly subsided. An overwhelming feeling of nostalgia enveloped her as she stepped foot in each room, forced to relive all the memories that she's had.

As she stood in the middle of her parents' old room, she couldn't help but give in to her emotions. The tears that she's been trying to hold off since entering the house cascaded freely down her cheeks.

Ari could see them moving around the room, her mom sitting on her vanity dresser as she cleaned her face from her makeup, her dad lying on the bed flicking channels as he tried to figure out what to watch. She could see her younger self sprawled on the carpet in front of the TV waiting for the next movie her father will put on.

" Ari, " a knock came on the bedroom door. Her nanny's head popped through the small opening the second her mother responded.

" It's bedtime, " her nanny said.

Ari frowned shaking her head. " But I'm still watching TV with daddy. "

" It's bedtime, Ari, " her mother repeated looking at her sternly. " What did we agree on? On school nights, you can only watch TV until 8pm. "

" But mom, " her younger self protested. " It's Thursday. It's almost weekend. "

" Darling, we can do movie time tomorrow night. " her father spoke from the bed. " I can get us some popcorn and ice cream. What do you say? "

Ten year old Ari beamed. " We will get popcorn and ice cream? "

" Yes, and pizza if you like. " Her father nodded his head. " Now, come here and give me a good night kiss. "

Ari quickly jumped off the floor. Clutching her favorite teddy bear, she climbed on the bed and gave her father a peck on both cheeks. She quickly climbed down and did the same to her mother.

" Good night, Ariana, " her mother said.

" G'dnight mommy, " she said and gleefully walked to the door.

Before letting her nanny take her out of the room, she looked at her father again. " Movie time tomorrow with popcorn, ice cream and pizza. "

It was a statement not a question.

Her father nodded. " But only if you sleep now and behave in school tomorrow. "

She grinned happily and quickly took her nanny's hand who led her out of her parents' room.

The memory slowly faded but not before another one flashed before her eyes. Ari blinked back tears and sucked in her breath as she helplessly watched the memory replay in front of her.

She clutched her chest and closed her eyes, finally giving in to her emotions. The moment she did, it seeped through every corner of her body, right to her very core.

Her knees suddenly buckled hitting the parquet floor with a loud thud.

" Ariana, " Marco was quickly bending down beside her on the floor, an anxious expression on his face. " If this too much for you right now, we can go. "

It was a moment before she lifted her eyes off the floor and looked at him through her tears.

" I-I'm fine, " she stammered and forced a reassuring smile. " I need to...I need to do this. "