No Turning Back

Light danced across my closed eye-lids, beckoning me to wake up. I opened my eyes to see the first rays of the sun shining through the cracks between my curtains. It was raining gently outside; a strange mixture of rain and shine that gave me a delightful sense of peace. But then I looked around my room and saw the boxes that contained most of my earthly possessions, and suddenly I was reminded what day it was. My momentary peace shattered, I wanted to pull the covers over my head, close my eyes and rewind a few years, even as excitement, simultaneously with fear, flooded my heart. Today I was spreading my wings and leaving the nest.

I could hardly believe that I was leaving a life-time- even if eighteen years is not that much- of memories and my family and friends behind to go to University in another city. It seemed so surreal and, to be honest, I felt old. I wanted to travel back in time and enjoy my childhood of day dreams and imaginary adventures once again. But there was no turning back now; time was marching onwards, whether I felt like joining the ride or not.

Sighing, I pulled myself out of bed, got dressed and walked past the kitchen, where my mother was cooking something delicious for my last breakfast at home.  Noticing that she looked ready to burst into tears, I slipped quietly outside into the cool air and seated myself on the veranda’s steps. The rain and breeze teased my hair as I drank in the sights I would only see during the holidays. The tall oak tree I had climbed countless times, the soft green grass, honey-suckle bushes, tree house and flower-beds all held a wealth of memories. A smile played on my lips as I thought of all the times my brother and I had romped in that garden.

I was called in for breakfast some time later and it was such a dismal meal, despite the scrumptious food. I was the first child to leave home and we all somehow knew, or thought, that our close-knit family would not be quite the same again. Finally it was time to leave. We packed all the boxes we could into my small car and the rest would arrive in a truck. I had never seen my family so forlorn as they were when they hugged me goodbye, tears in their eyes. After all that needed to be said was said and a prayer was prayed, I climbed into my car and, with tears streaming down my cheeks, rode away. I couldn’t believe I was leaving them behind as this new chapter in my life began. I had finally flown away and left the nest; there was no turning back now.