Oh my dear readers, we've come to the end! We're back in Mel's POV. Hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it!
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The necklaces bounce on my chest. The beads clink happily around my head. The heart in my chest, although sad that my adventures are over, sings with joy because I'm home!
It's been over a year but nothing really seems to have changed. The sleepy town I left is still quiet. No-one knows I'm home yet, not even my parents. I want to surprise them.
I can't help the grin on my face as I walk from the station to my house. It's a long walk but I'm used to long walks, I giggle as I remember all my run-ins. Yes, I'm definately used to long walks. I'm fitter than I've even been in my entire life, and I'm happier than I can remember ever feeling ever!
Anticipation builds in my chest, the nervous laughter is straining my throat, I can't wait to see my parent's faces when they open that door! My feet drum along the pavement. I'm on the road I've grown up on.
Five houses to go.
Four.
Three.
I can see my home!
Two.
I give up my steady pace and sprint as fast as I can, well as fast as my heavy baggage will allow me to move. The door is now a foot from my face. My muscles quiver with excitement. God I hope they're home. That would be very awkward. I set my cases down and bounce on the balls of my feet.
I breathe out in short pants, take another deep breath and repeat the short exhales. I'm ready. I'm so ready. Ready to come home! Woo! I'm ready!
Bringing my shaking hand to the door I close my eyes and say goodbye to the peace. I rap three times on the wood and then wait. The wait goes on for ages before I hear a shuffling behind the door and my heartrate speeds up exponentially, it feels like my heart is trying to rip from my mouth.
OH I'M SO EXCITED! I bite my tongue to keep from squealing. I'm home!
The doorknob turns too slowly so I grab it from my side, turn and push the door back.
"Ma! Dad!" Screaming I run, arms wide, towards them.
"Oh my god Mel! Is that really you! Oh we missed you!" Mum's crying and hugging me back tightly.
"You're back!" Dad cries with delight, wrapping mum and I in his arms.
We jump together on the spot, hugging, squealing, crying, celebrating.
I've never felt so good... well, maybe that one time... but that wasn't family love, that wasn't the goodness you feel when you've left home for over a year and come home to your wonderful, loving, amazing, fantastic parents! (No, that was a much naughtier love... but more of that another time perhaps.)
"Come in! Come in, come in and tell us all about your travels!" Mum gushes as dad picks up my cases and brings them inside.
The smile never falters on my face as I walk from the doorway to the sofa and sit down with mum, not letting go of her once. Dad drops my cases beside the couch, gets us all drinks and is back sitting on my other side on the couch in record time. Always the thoughtful one, my dad.
My parents then sit, enraptured, as I recount everything I'd done for the past year. They sit with expressions open as a book on their faces, their shock, wonder, laughter, sadness, overall excitement for everything I'd experienced is clear as day. Watching their expressions is almost as amusing as telling the stories. Of course there are some parts they'll never know, and some parts that I'll treasure forever and never tell a soul.
YOU ARE READING
Behind the Cherry Tree, A Not-So-Short Story
RomanceMel and Mike met as toddlers in the playground. One thing lead to another and they became unlikely best friends, quite the reverse of their parents feelings- which are something more along the lines of the hatred shared in Romeo and Juliet. But fear...
