Taking A Chance On Love || m.t.

十六 Nostalgia

"Thank you, please keep the change," I said to the taxi driver as they pulled up in front of my parents' house. It had been barely 2 years and yet it felt like it had been an eternity. After seeing the driver off, I stood still in the driveway for a moment to compose myself. Smiling nostalgically as I picked up the mail in the mailbox like I used to do after school, I walked slowly up the driveway to the French doors we installed because my dad and I clumsily broke through the door frame while sledding down the stairs when I was 7 years old. Putting my key in the lock, I was embraced by the heady floral, yet zesty scent of the gardenia bushes my mom and I planted in front of the kitchen windows when I was 11 years old. As I turned the key, memories of my mom and I cooking in the kitchen on late summer days as the scent of blooming gardenias wafted in through the open windows washed over me like a gentle caress.

A light smile playing on my lips, I swung the door open. The sound of my parents' light bickering and happy chatter filled my ears as I turned around to close the door after pulling my luggage in. At the sound of the door closing, the chatter ceased as footsteps sounded from the kitchen, getting ever closer. I was rewarded by my parents' questioning expressions turning to ones of happy surprise when they saw me. At that moment, all my fortitude crumbled and I felt like a little girl all over again as my nose began to tickle.

"Mom, Dad...I'm home," I said brightly, voice cracking slightly as my eyes glittered with unshed tears.

My parents frowned immediately, sensing something wrong. That was when they finally glanced behind me at the 3 large suitcases I had brought with me. After a moment of silent conversation between them, my mom closed the gap between us and hugged me tightly, my dad leaning in to hug us both. My already crumbling façade fell as I sobbed in their arms.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go," I blubbered.

"Nonsense," Mom chided gently. "You're not a stranger, you're our daughter."

"This is your home, you're welcome anytime, you know that," Dad added as he patted my hair softly.

I relished the strong embrace of the 2 people I knew would always be there for me no matter what. Regardless of how I got here, I knew I needed this. I needed to feel this familial love that had weathered many storms unchanged in person. Only the 3 of us knew the history between us, and how much our family had suffered over the years to eventually stand this strong and sure. I needed these pillars of support as I tried to remain steady through the earthquakes of recent years. I didn't know how long I stood there crying, but their arms never left me, not even when my hiccups subsided. After letting go, I gestured to my luggage.

"Dad, can you help me put my stuff in my old room please?" I said while wiping my puffy eyes.

Dad immediately scooped up 2 suitcases while I took the last one up the stairs. Swinging the door of my old room open, I was surprised to see it was in the same condition it was when I left it.

"I had to convince your mom we didn't need another storage room, so you're welcome," Dad said with a chuckle.

I laughed too, my first carefree moment in months.

After putting the suitcases inside, I wrapped my arms around my dad's arm with a smile.

"I smelled you guys cooking earlier, I hope there's enough for me?" I asked cheekily.

"Ha! You know me, I always make enough for leftovers, and you know there's always enough rice," he replied as we made our way down the stairs and into the kitchen.

I let go of his arm and started opening lids to see what was being made. My mom playfully smacked my hands away, pushing me toward the sink as she scolded me for not washing my hands first. I laughed, making a big show of washing my hands before mischievously flicking water at her. My dad watched with amusement as my mom grabbed a dish towel off the counter and pretended to chase me around the kitchen before stopping in a huff as I hid behind my dad.