In Her Own Footsteps

PROLOGUE

The past promise of a bright future came flooding back to Aanya, transporting her to a cherished time and place. Recollections of her teenage years resurfaced. She was five years younger, freshly eighteen, laying down in her poorly painted childhood bedroom in Mauritius. The comforting scent of home embraced her. The worn-out quilt her grandma had repurposed on her single bed cradled her body as she lay there, lost in her thoughts.

Bathed in the soft glow of her shattered Sony Vaio laptop, Aanya found solace in the familiar voice of Avril Lavigne's "When You're Gone," filling the room. The song had been her steadfast companion, offering a comforting melancholy and understanding through the tumultuous years of adolescence.

As she sang, her phone buzzed incessantly, a testament to the vibrant social life she had cultivated. Group chat messages inundated her screen, reminding her of the connections she had forged with friends and classmates. Aanya had recently graduated from high school, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

The anticipation of her college acceptance letter had propelled her excitement for the future. Almost a month ago, she received that envelope brimming with possibilities. Aanya often doubted whether she would make it. Her worries subsided. It was only a matter of time. The thought of embarking on a new life abroad had ignited an unyielding spark within her. With fervor, she immersed herself in college move-in vlogs on YouTube, meticulously planning her reinvention for this upcoming chapter.

"I already booked my flight to Canada," a message from her close friend, Bruce, broke her reverie. "Did you book yours?" Bruce had been accepted to the University of Newfoundland, and their proximity would soon stretch across eight hours of land.

Aanya typed back, "Not yet. I wish I could leave early like you."

"I know you. If it were up to you, you would leave right now," Bruce replied.

But a waiting period lay before her, a countdown to freedom. Six more months stood between Aanya and her departure for the United States—an eternity and a fleeting moment all at once. The anticipation mingled with impatience, interweaving dreams of the future with a nostalgic yearning for the past.

Their conversation continued, discussing visa interviews and future plans. Aanya had envisioned joyful winter breaks with Bruce, but destiny would unfold differently. They would grow apart, reducing their interactions to once a year. The bustling social life she had imagined in college failed to materialize as unforeseen traumas forced her into isolation. Nostalgia washed over her, reminding her of the innocent memories and hopes she once held, juxtaposed against the stark reality of loneliness.

As Aanya peered out of her bedroom window, the night unfolded before her. The gentle rustling of leaves and the serene glow of the moon created a tranquil ambiance. In the distance, the flickering green light of the neighborhood mosque added a touch of ethereal beauty to the scene. However, amidst this peaceful backdrop, Aanya's attention was diverted by the insistent barking of Tilla, her beloved dog, yearning for her embrace in the backyard.

Aanya longed to step outside and envelop Tilla in a warm hug, but the fear of alerting her father restrained her. Throughout her childhood, her parents had gone above and beyond to provide for her and her siblings. Aanya was grateful for their care and devotion. However, her father's role as a police captain had instilled a constant vigilance in him. He had witnessed the darker side of the world through his career, which heightened his overprotectiveness towards his family.

Always on high alert, her father would rush to the scene at the slightest creak of a door, fearing the worst. Aanya had faced consequences for innocuous events in the past, as her father would leap to conclusions. He would imagine a potential break-in or worse, the presence of a boy, even though she had never done so before. While his actions stemmed from a deep affection for his family, Aanya couldn't help but feel suffocated by his overreactions. It seemed as though she couldn't have a life of her own while under the constant watch of her parents.

The desire for independence and autonomy tugged at Aanya's heart. She yearned to explore the world, make her own choices, and carve her own path. Yet, she found herself confined by the protective bubble that her parents had woven around her. While she appreciated their love and concern, she couldn't help but feel stifled by their constant surveillance. Aanya longed for the freedom to discover herself, to take risks, and to experience life beyond the boundaries set by her father's fears.

The soft meowing and gentle nibble on her arm from her pet cat brought her back to the present, seated cross-legged on the navy blue sofa that Connor had brought from his old apartment. She had returned to her current time, leaving behind the memory of a familiar home and her once-cherished innocence.

Aanya clung to the memory of her childhood bedroom a little longer, contemplating the weight of her upcoming journey. She wished she could travel back in time to warn her younger self and prepare her for the challenges that lay ahead. She yearned for the comfort of her past, yet deep down, she knew that despite the hardships she would face, she wouldn't change her decision. She learned to make her way in life in her own footsteps. Her experience as a first-generation immigrant in the United States had taught her more than she could ever imagine. Over the past five years, she had grown and accomplished more than she appeared to on the surface. The memories of her past, the dreams for her future, and the bittersweet farewell to the familiar converged in this moment of quiet reflection.