That Night

  After a tear drenched departure of shoulders from the most comforting hug and a quick glance into their warm eyes, I muttered one of the most emotional words in the English language, “Goodbye.” I blew a kiss to the vehicle full of my cherished life companions as it descended through the glistening snow white road until the vehicle vanished from my eye sight.  I climbed the empty and desolate stairs to my motel room where I would soon rest my head for the last time in my familiar surroundings. With each footstep, I analyzed every strong sense my brain could process.



 

  My eyes captured the scene of trees fallen victim to the harsh winter overlooking hills and rooftops covered in ice and snow.  My nose recorded the sharp and musky smell of the wintry suburb off of the frozen lake. My ears caught the sound waves coming from my black boots meeting the icy pavement along with the whistle of the strong winds through the calm town. The salty taste of the tears that flowed down my cheeks to my lips lingered while the cigarette burned away in the corner of my mouth. Physically, my body shivered while I failed to wear the winter coat of the year that night. I felt the bitter cold wind lift my hair and swarm my rosy-cheeked face. Emotionally, I felt my insides cringe in fear of the unknown future ahead of me. Empty questions flooded my mind searching for answers to my illogical fears.



 

  I opened the door with a relief of the heater instantly warming my frozen bright pink and cracked fingers. I glanced at the alarm clock that abstractly counted down the hours of my flight to a destination that I’ve never experienced. I stripped my celebratory outfit of the night off of my restless body. I scurried around the small and dark room to find a more comforting ensemble to wear for a few hours of sleep. I pulled the thick and warm comforters to relax my body and put my tortured mind at ease. As I closed my swollen and burning eyes, thousands of memories flooded the previous blank imagery. Memories of the home I spent half of my life while taking its beautiful architecture that welcomed me every time I entered its premises for granted. A memory of my friends’ bright laughing faces around me and every word they have said that engraved through my brain appeared soon after. Those thoughts disappeared as my brain entered its routine sleep cycle.



 

  The sound of the cringing alarm siren interrupted my dreams as I slowly drifted into reality. The sound of my cheery mother who ordered me to awaken informed me of the cab driver’s arrival to escort us to the airport where I would officially abandon my soul and spirit in the cold wintry suburb. I took a deep breathe to relieve a fraction of the pain I felt emotionally while forever looking back on the abyss of  my favorite comfort spot – my hometown.