Strange Desires

Life Goes On

Chapter 10

Cassie's P.O.V

Time flies. I gave my finals and couldn't believe that I got the highest grades. Dad told me to go to California for higher education. I was thinking about taking biology studies further. Things were going good. I was now studying in University of California, met many different kinds of people, learnt experiences from life. The childish desired didn't bother me any more. Living among unknown people gave confidence to me. I became more realistic and tolerating.

But one thing that remained constant was that I never paid much heed to boys. John was my childhood bestfriend and no one could replace the place I had for him in my heart. But I hadn't met him in a long time. As for Henry and Kevin, things got more complicated for them. Mom told me that Henry was now working with father in his business, but Kevin had grown into something much unexpected.

He involved himself in hideous activities. He started drug dealing and had also gone to jail for that. He was least interested in studies and mom and dad were really worried about him.

I also developed friendly relations with my teacher, Peter Byers. He often texted me about how my studies were going and if I needed any help. Though, I didn't know much about him, but he seemed a good young man. Life is going on like this but who knows what may happen next.

It had been years since I went to my home town. I often talked to John on phone. He had become a well known psychiatrist and now a days he was with his mom. I was thinking about surprising mom and dad with my unexpected arrival. My Medical was complete now. I was as free as a bird.

I booked my tickets and instead of taking flight to Paris, I decided to go on train. I have always loved the memories color full hues would bring back to me. In the countryside the green had meant nothing to me. The grass was green, the trees were green and the bread was green half the time. I couldn't wait to leave, couldn't wait to leave that penetrating winter chill behind me and head for central heating, no garden and granite counters. But now, the forest of home is on my walls of heart. Every leaf was my mother's smile or my father's bad jokes. How tired of them I was, how tired without them I am now.

The train took me to the roots of my childhood. I saw the stores of low areas that came between my journey. I saw little children in the old village that were holding the penny candy and running here and there, relishing. I couldn't believe that those little hard sweets still existed that I used to have in my early childhood. They tasted as soap, white chocolate mice and fizzy cola bottles.

Before I even realized it, I had come to look at a nostalgic riverside -envisioning the sequel to the dream I used to have. I wondered when we cross time paths again, the little Cassie inside me begs me, please, don't forget me. Not like affection, not like love, not something that's changing. Its only me as growing into what my life brings to me, and that's how I think it will always be. Holding onto my aimless feelings, I look back as people often do. Stopping the scene where we chanced to meet from fading gently away. And with that I was humming my kinder garden rhyme:

~All my memories gather round her

Miner's lady, stranger to blue water

Dark and dusty, painted on the sky

Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home

To the place, where I belong

West Virginia, mountain mama

Take me home, country roads~

After a long time, I reached my destination. My address was printed on my mind, and with that I reached home. As I stepped onto the threshold, a strange feeling caught hold of me. It was love, vague memories, laughter, cries, fears , but only now, it seemed as if residing within me, they all now came out to visit my home, as I was.

By the door was a woven mat, fashioned from rustic strings, enriched with the mud of thousands of boots - a testimony to the life that dwelled in the house. I smiled, looking at it. The door mat could have been replaced years ago, its edges were frayed and curled, but it was still here. I lifted my hand and gave a huge bang on the door, with the intension of surprising whoever would open it. A familiar voice came from inside:

"Cominggggg"

and then I heard footsteps towards the door. It creaked opened with my mom standing right there, and me with a huge smile. She widened her eyes and then busted into tears, hugging me and kissing me all over. My dad came from behind to check, and seeing me ,he came rushing and hugged us. It was a family scene I would never forget.