A Breath Away

U N O

"Choice is the most powerful tool we have. Everything boils down to choice. We exist in a field of infinite possibilities. Every choice we make shuts an infinite number of doors and opens an infinite number of doors. At any point we can change the direction of our lives by a simple choice. It is all in our hands, our hearts, and our minds.

What am I exactly doing?

This question has been running through my mind as I drive around this familiar road. It's been what? Ten years? Everything changed and yet everything felt familiar.

The bricked old buildings are now replaced with high-rise palatial buildings and I must say, I'm impressed with the way things turned out. The once empty lot where my friends and I usually hang out a decade ago is now turned to a park. There were a lot more houses and shops than what I used to remember. I think the place looked better than it was before. Somehow, this change felt nice.

The feeling of familiarity intensified as I turn the corner to my old neighborhood. Everyone in this place actually knew each other, it's a little town for crying out loud. Of course, the neighbor at the end of the street knew whose car drove around 5 in the morning and of course, I bet with all the money in my pocket, which basically is nada, the old man living in the other side of town knows exactly what Ms. Simon's doing around 3 in the afternoon.

Oh, you get my point.

It is that little.

I missed this place!

I missed the familiarity.

I missed being close to the people that I grew up with. Of course, I met a bunch of people in the city but as the saying goes - there's no place like home.

I felt my heart beat drastically as I pass through an old rusty gate. My grip tightened on the steering wheel.

Get yourself together Xi.

I parked my car in front of an old classic house. I never intended to come back and I never intended to be back for the same reason I left.

Taking a deep breath, I get out of the car and looked around, taking in my surroundings. Against the dark night, I could still vividly see the silhouette of the once timeless classic house that is in front of me. The bricks didn't seem so old, nor did the windows. But as my gaze fell upon the vines that tangled themselves around the house and the overgrown bushes that lay all over the place, it is clearly evident that I am wrong.

Ten years, eh? I bitterly uttered in my brain.

Looking under the mat, I found the spare key that has always been there since I was young. I guess, some things never did change after all. With one swift move, the door opened and I invited myself in, silently making my way to my old bedroom.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Loud metal noise suddenly rang through my ears, making me jump out of the bed and making my bewildered mind suddenly awake. I scan the room, my eyes focusing on the two speakers conveniently placed above my pillows.

Damn, these rugrats never changed!

I should've known better than to leave my door open. Of course, they would know I arrived. Despite the fact that I made sure to travel around midnight so no one would know. But yes, remember how little I said this town is?