Revival

one / first meetings

Song for this chapter is Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

-

Nothing in my life thus far has been quite as satisfying as the tiny stack of suitcases waiting for me by the front door. Sitting there all ready to be picked up and swept away with me on the journey awaiting us, after beeing cooped up in the attic collecting dust for the past seventeen years. I guess I can relate with them. 

I feel like my heart has been shut down for so long because there hasn't been anything around to revive it back to life. Nothing has been able to get my blood pumping and my heart racing. No excitement or anticipation has overtaken me like right now as my dad picks up my bags and brings them out to his car.

I feel the cobwebs rise from within myself and it's like I'm floating on a cloud as I picture a place outside of this town and it's perfectly trimmed hedges and excrutiatingly boring residents and their crisp, ironed clothes and penny loafers. I imagine the hills of Tuscany and the multi-colored skirts being sold on the streets of Madrid and the smell of freshly brewed coffee flowing through the alleys of Paris.

"Nicole we're all set for the airport." I hear my dad's voice yell from outside, snapping me out of my daydream.

I scoop up my carry-on backpack from the chair and am about to make my way to the door when I hear my mom rushing down the stairs calling my name.

"Nicole sweetie hold on," she says as she reaches me and gently places her hand on my shoulder. "I love you sweetheart. I'm so beyond happy to see you just, happy again. Ever since you heard about this trip you've been so... alive."

I can see what's the beginning of tears swell up around her eyelids like threatening gray clouds right before a big storm. 

"Mom," I manage to choke out. "I love you too." 

Then we hugged. I mean we really hugged. Like the kind of embrace where you have this secret conversation with each other, through wrapping each other up in our arms, we are saying everything we need to.

I get how difficult it must be having to be around me all the time. I've never given off the most positive vibes and nothing either of my parents did for me really worked until Dr. Kuto suggested this trip. And when my parents didn't even hesitate to agree to send me off on the trip, I saw. I saw the love they have for me and that was the first hint of life that was injected into my heart in a long time. It brought a little piece of me back to life and reminded me just how important these two people are to me.

"Goodbye Nicole. Have fun, make friends!" She yells from the doorway as I climb into the front seat of the car.

I wave goodbye out the window as we back out of the driveway. The sun was shining yellow and bright above the car and coming right through the windshield, warming my skin. The radio was on full blast as the music rang out of the speakers and resonated throughtout the small space of the car.

 -

I'm standing on the curb of the sidewalk outside the airport nervously rocking back and forth on my heels. My dad is unloading the trunk with my few suitcases while giving me the typical parent lecture.

"Brush your teeth. Don't talk to strangers. Don't waste all your money. Always walk with a buddy." etc.etc.

He finally places the final bag on the sidewalk beside me and straightens up to come face-to-face with me. 

"Nicole," he begins. "I want you to have fun on this trip. I want you to meet new people and have experiences and I'm so happy you've decided to put yourself out there this way."