The Golden Boy (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

In those few short hours on the road to Hotwire Falls, I did some thinking.  I realized that those months in Rosenblatt and at that school weren't worthless.  During those months, I learned valuable lessons.  About love, and life.  I discovered the true meaning of friendship.  I experienced joy, then almost immediate pain. 

In those few short months I learned more about myself than I had my entire life.  I finally understood myself.

Watching that road unfold on that day, that day I went home, I realized what this road symbolized.  This road, was like a borderline.  A buffer.  If this road hadn't existed, I would've ran back to Hotwire Falls in a heartbeat.  But, because of that road, that distance, I grew.  I grew as a person.  As a friend.  I learned what it's like to experience pain.  That road, that road with those repeated yellow stripes, that road meant something.  And I felt the rushing relief.  That relief of the reconstruction internally.  The reconstruction of my heart.  The old Hudson was coming back.  But at the same time, this Hudson in-the-making wasn't old.  In fact, it was the newest Hudson you could get.  The New and Improved Hudson was coming back.  No one could see it, not even me.  I could only feel it. 

There are two different definitions of feeling.  There is touch.  Touching something and registering how it feels; the texture.  Then there is the other type of feeling.  A sensation.  Love.  Anger.  Sadness.  Pain.  Happiness, depression, peace.  As those few short hours on the road to Hotwire Falls came to a close, I felt truly at peace.  Truly alive. 

As we neared my town, my home, my life, I could see familiar places.  The playground where I broke my foot in 3rd grade.  The bench where I lost my first tooth at a picnic in the park.  It was almost as if I was experiencing all my memories for a second time.  As we got closer to my house, my real house, the baseball diamond appeared.

Then two other dots appeared on the horizon.  They seemed to be moving.  As the car got closer, I could finally see who those two specks where.  Keira and Wyatt.  My two best friends in the whole wide world.  They were running towards the car.  Towards me.  As soon as they got close enough and my car slowed, I tumbled out of the vehicle.

Wyatt got to me first.  We both grinned at each other, and I punched him lightly on the shoulder.  He snickered and rubbed his arm. 

Then Keira reached me.  She was smiling like I'd never seen before.  My world seemed to move in slow motion.  She had forgiven.  I raced to her as well and we met in one giant hug.  As I hugged my girlfriend that day, I never wanted to let go.  But of course, we had to, and I smiled at her.  Wyatt then flashed me a playful grin and he took off in the direction of the baseball field.  I grinned and shook my head.  I took Keira's hand, smiled at her beautiful smile, and we both walked to the field after Wyatt.  The orange light from the sunset washed over us all at that moment.  It was on that day, walking there, hand-in-hand with my girlfriend, toward my best friend, that I felt truly...

Golden.