Trip of Recovery

As I finally entered my home town I was met with a sigh of relief. So much had changed in the last couple of years, but my home stayed the same. No matter where I went and no matter how drastically I changed I had a place I could return to. 

As I walked through the old town memories of the things I had done in my youth flowed through me. When I had finally made it to my home, I got nervous. I had been gone for so long on my trip that they might have forgotten about me. I began to pace back in forth in my worried state of mind. Would they accept me this time around? 

I had left in the first place because my family didn't accept who I was. They didn't really know me. I had came from a big family and being the middle child I was often overlooked. Because of this I became a trouble-maker and went out of my way to make them all annoyed or miserable even. One day it had became too much for them all. They just couldn't deal with or handle me. I was supposed to be sent away to somewhere they would never see me again. 

I knew they loved me and they were only doing it for my good, but at that moment I hated them so much. I felt as if they didn't love nor care about me. So I ran away and began my trip of trying to find myself. On the way I had met many people who helped me learn to love myself and find my path in life. Yet, I was still met with worry and doubt. During the time period I was away I even met a women I loved, we then got married and had adopted a beautiful baby girl. 

"Nicky," I whipped my head around to see who said my name and made eye contact with my older brother. "We thought you were dead," He choked out. I stood frozen just gazing at him as my emotions swirled inside of me. I felt as if I was going to cry, but I began to laugh making him confused. 

"I missed you," I said while running over to hug him. It had been so long since I had seen him. My older brother, Keon, was the person I was closest to out of my whole family. After what seemed like forever we had finally let go. 

"Where have you been?" He asked with a sad look. Seeing the sadness on my brother's face felt unbearable. I had already knew the rest would act the same. 

"It's a long story," I told him. "Is everyone home?"

"Yeah, they're going to be really happy to see that you're okay," 

Upon entering the house I was hit with nostalgia. I had ran away during my last year of middle school and haven't been in contact with my family since then. It had taken everything in me to get my life together and I had went through some really hard times. 

"Nicky?" I heard a voice asked. Upon seeing her face I had froze. It was my mother. She still looked so young and beautiful as she had when I was a kid. Old age wasn't effecting her much. Her face has changed a little and had a couple wrinkles, while her roots were slightly grey. Just seeing her made me burst in to tears. 

"I'm so sorry mom," I croaked out as my legs gave out, making me fall to my knees. My mother didn't know what to say and just kept glancing at my brother as he helped me up. 

"Where have you been?" She said touching my teach lightly as if she was afraid of me being an allusion. I couldn't tell what was going through her mind. Her face showed so many emotions; sadness, joy, and so many more. I couldn't even answer her and just continued to cry. 

“Honey what’s wro-“ My father froze upon seeing me and stopped whatever he was going to say as he just looked at me. 

“Nicky,” He whispered as small tears began to fall. 

“Hey dad,” I cried. 

“I’m going to get the others,” He said as he quickly wiped away his tears. He then brought my other three siblings in and it was just a big tear festival. A combination of happy and sad tears.

“Where have you been?” One of the twins spoke up. That seemed to be the question of the day, but it was understandable. After all I had been gone for ten years. I was just happy to see my family. The twins were now teenagers and were almost done with high school. They were both very athletic and smart, so they were getting ready to begin the college hunt. My older sister, Sam, lived in our little small town as a veterinarian, while my brother lives in New York, but he always visits. 

Seeing them all grown up just felt weird, but in a good way. I was happy that they were doing well. 

“When I had ran away a lot of things happened. I had lived on the streets homeless and had nowhere to go until I met my current boss,” I explained. “She helped me get through school and even gave me a place to live,” 

“How did you meet your wife?” Damien, one of the twins, had asked. 

“Her daughter and I became best friends. When we got older we both fell in love. We knew that we couldn’t have kids since we’re both women, so we decided to adopt and we met our daughter, Noami, she’s a beautiful baby girl and we love her. We’re actually thinking about adopting again,”

“That’s wonderful honey,” My dad said. 

“I can’t believe you got married before me,” Sam, my older sister, said as she nudged me. 

“When can we meet them?” My older brother asked. 

“They’re actually at the John’s Inn. He was surprise to me after all this time,” I explained. “I didn’t know if you would take me back. I’m sorry,” I began to cry once again. I had missed my family on my trip of recovery, but I was scared that they didn’t want me anymore and was a coward. I didn’t know how to face. 

“Hey, it’s okay. We love you no matter what sweetie,” My mom said embracing me in a hug. I wiped my tears and sighed. My family took me back and it was all worth it. I regretted my trip and leaving. But sometimes things are meant to be. If I had never went on my trip I would have never met my wife or gotten my current job.