Our Short Journey

Chapter 2 - Dreams in the Making

The school library had always been a place of quiet refuge, but for Owen and Sally, it was where their dreams took shape. After school, they would meet up and slip through the heavy wooden doors into a world of endless possibilities. The musty smell of old books greeted them as they navigated the labyrinth of shelves to their favorite corner, where stacks of travel books and maps were piled high.

Sally leaned over a large world map spread out on the table, her finger tracing the path from their small town to far-off places they could only dream of visiting. "What do you think, Owen? We could start in Europe, maybe visit Paris first?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, the idea of standing beneath the Eiffel Tower igniting her imagination.

Owen grinned, nodding eagerly. "And then we could take a train to Italy, explore Rome and Venice. I've always wanted to see the Colosseum." He opened a book filled with photos of ancient ruins, flipping through the pages with growing excitement. "It'll be amazing, Sally. Just you and me, seeing the world."

The more they talked, the more their dream list grew. They scribbled down names of cities, countries, and landmarks on a crumpled piece of paper, the ink smudged from frequent handling. The list was long, and they knew it would take years to complete, but that only fueled their determination.

In those moments, the world felt small and within their reach. They talked about getting part-time jobs to save up for their travels. Sally suggested they start a travel fund, and they agreed to deposit every spare penny they could find into a jar they'd hidden under Sally's bed. It was a pact, a promise to each other that they would make their dreams come true.

One afternoon, they found a new sanctuary-a dilapidated old treehouse at the edge of town, long forgotten by others but perfect for them. It became their secret hideout, a place where they could escape from the world and dream without limits. The treehouse was shabby, with creaking wooden boards and a roof that leaked when it rained, but to them, it was a castle, their own little kingdom.

Owen hung up a world map on one of the walls, and they spent hours sitting on the floor, planning routes, marking destinations, and imagining what it would be like to finally step foot in the places they'd only seen in books.

They discuss about it again and want to limit the places that they want to go. After few minutes of discussion, they agreed to shorten the list and get their final choices. Their list was short but still meaningful, reflecting the places they both felt drawn to the most. They scribbled it down on a crumpled piece of paper:

1. Paris, France - To see the Eiffel Tower and experience the city of love.
2. Rome, Italy - To walk among ancient ruins and marvel at the Colosseum.
3. Kyoto, Japan - To witness the cherry blossoms and explore serene temples.
4. Santorini, Greece - To watch the sunset over the blue-domed churches and white-washed buildings.
5. New York City, USA - To stand in the middle of Times Square and feel the energy of the city.

These five destinations became the foundation of their dream, a promise to each other that they would make it happen, no matter what.

"Do you think we'll really make it?" Sally asked, her voice soft as she gazed at the map. There was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, a rare moment of doubt.

Owen turned to her, his voice full of conviction. "We will, Sally. We've got each other, and that's all we need. We'll make it happen."

She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, you're right. We'll make it happen." She leaned back, resting her head against the wooden wall, and closed her eyes, as if trying to imagine the future they were planning.

As time passed, Sally seemed quieter, more introspective, but Owen didn't notice. They were teenagers, after all, and the world was still new and full of promise. They continued to dream, continued to plan, unaware of the cruel twists life sometimes takes.

Their dream list, though short, held the essence of their hopes and desires. And for now, that was enough. They were young, with their whole lives ahead of them-or so they thought.

With their dream list securely tucked away, Owen and Sally were more determined than ever to make their plans a reality. They knew that turning their dreams into plans required more than just excitement-it required hard work and dedication.

After school, they both took on part-time jobs to start saving money for their future travels. Owen worked at a local bookstore, where he spent his afternoons shelving books and helping customers find their next read. Sally took a job at a small cafe, serving coffee and pastries with a smile. Their days were filled with schoolwork and part-time duties, but they always found time to meet and discuss their plans.

As the months passed and they prepared to transition to college, they continued working their part-time jobs. Owen and Sally managed their schedules with precision, balancing their academic responsibilities with their jobs. They met at the treehouse whenever they could, sharing stories about their days and discussing new details about their travel plans.

College brought new challenges and opportunities, but their commitment to their dream remained unwavering. During semester breaks, they took on double shifts at their respective jobs, working longer hours to boost their savings. Despite the exhaustion, their spirits were high as they imagined the adventures that awaited them.

One evening, after a particularly grueling week of exams and long shifts, they sat together in the treehouse, surrounded by travel brochures and maps. Sally leaned back against the wooden wall, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lantern they had brought along. "Can you believe how much we've accomplished already?" she asked, her voice tinged with both pride and weariness.

Owen nodded, rubbing his tired eyes. "We're getting closer to our goal every day. It's going to be worth it, Sally. Every hour we've worked, every penny saved-it's all going to pay off."

Sally smiled, though her eyes carried a hint of exhaustion. "Yeah, it will. I just hope we can handle everything once we start traveling. It's going to be so different from anything we've ever done."

Owen looked at her with a reassuring smile. "We'll be fine. We've got each other, and we've planned for this. Besides, it's going to be the adventure of a lifetime."

As they continued to work hard and dream big, Owen and Sally remained focused on their shared vision. Their commitment to their travel plans only grew stronger, and they found solace in the knowledge that they were building a future together-one filled with the promise of exploring the world and creating memories that would last a lifetime.

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