Take Me Home

Family

It was a long drive back to Tulare, as my mom and dad and I sat in the backseat of the police car and the Tulare officer drove us back home. I sat in the middle of my parents, as they both held onto me and remained staring. However, for some odd reason I didn't feel awkward with them staring at me, I honestly didn't mind it.

My dog Polo sat resting in my lap, as officer Bates returned him to me after I saw my parents, and before we started to head home. He had told me he found him at the cabin, but only held onto him until I saw my family, so he did not get in the way. I guess that sort of made sense. And so Polo only lied comfortably in my lap as I remained petting him and he fell asleep. It was nice that he was a rather small dog, which meant he took up no room. My parents didn't seem to care that I owned a dog, all they cared about was that their son was back. And was alive. I thought that if I was younger and brought home a dog they would have made me take him back, because I indeed remember they told me several times as a kid they did not want a dog. However this time it was different.

  They wrapped their arms around me more and held me tight, as their scents came rushing back to my memory, as so many things seemed to click in my head, as I instantly remembered more. Their faces hadn't changed one bit, as the distorted and faded faces in my head seemed to come back into focus as I saw them again. They both still bore the same dark brown hair colour, as my mother's was perhaps a bit longer, more flowing to her back instead of her shoulders like the last time I had seen her. Although my father's hair remained the same as I had seen it last, as it was messy and roughed up a bit. Their faces seemed to of produced more wrinkles though, as I could imagine they had come from many of the restless nights, searching and wondering where their son could be.

  For awhile as the car went smooth sailing down the highway, my parents and I kept quiet as we only enjoyed each other's company, and a very odd, but enjoyable sensation washed over me. I couldn't believe I was actually sitting here, with both my parents. How they were very much alive, and holding onto me close. I felt their love and care radiate off of them as it sent a tingling sensation my way.

I had waited for this moment for so long. Waiting for a moment that I never thought would occur. A moment I had dreamt of for so long. And now it was here. However it wasn't as I expected. I used to believe if my parents were truly alive, and I ever got to see them again, I would jump into their arms and never let go. As I imagined I would have tears washing in my eyes and receive the most happiest feeling in the world. However it was not like that, not much. Yes I was happy to finally be with them once more, however it was as if I was too shocked and stunned to cry at the time, and I didn't hold them for as long as I thought.

Once they hugged me at the station, they held me more than I held them. Just seeing their faces stunned me, almost to the point of paralyzation. This feeling I had at the moment wasn't at all what I expected. I thought I would have felt different, although I still remained the same as I did at the police station, only a bit more happy. But in this situation now, I felt as if I couldn't express my emotions properly, as I just sat there.

The sun rose higher and higher on the horizon as we had been driving for quite some time now. I had found out that Oxnard was three hours away from Tulare, however I didn't realize it was that far away. Maybe an hour, but not three. I remembered the first time Martins drove me to the first cabin, it didn't seem like three hours away, however I did remember it was a long drive. Maybe an hour away. And then maybe the second cabin we moved to was two hours away, because that drive seemed longer than the first.

  "You're......you're all grown up now," my mom said, trembling her words as I turned to face her, and she smiled a bit through her tears that had mostly dried up now. I tried smiling back at her, but my lips wouldn't seem to move.