The Long and Winding Road that Leads to your Door

A writing contest I participated in- To write a short story filled with nostalgia with the Title of this story as the prompt. I hope it can ignite an emotional spark in those who read it!

The Long and Winding Road that Leads to your Door - Yug Oswal 

Short Story filled with Nostalgia (350-400 words)

Yash was lost in his memories as he walked down the narrow, sandy road. 

He soon became aware of the scent of damp brickwork and the gentle pitter-patter of water dripping. For as long as he could remember, he had associated this sound and smell with returning home. He stopped in his steps and looked up to see a dilapidated house enter his vision. 

When he first saw it, memories of days long past flashed before his eyes. He remembered being greeted by his mother's relentless nagging and his father's big, warm hug and mischievous eyes.

The now-dirty brown walls and worn-out yellow front door had never felt more inviting, yet lonely, to him. He took careful steps to the front door and gently pushed it open. The yellow wood creaked with all its might as he softly stepped in to see the house's hall. Although the hall was thickly coated in dust, everything in it was the same as he could recall. 

The sofa in the hall was where he would always sit and sloth about, reading books and whining about his mother's prattle. Usually, his father joined him, sometimes supporting him in his antics and other times teasing him when he provoked his mother's temper. 

He could fondly recall their bickering, even if he had never desired more to be able to reach out to them, give them a hug, and say, "I love you." It was only now, years later, that he could realize just how precious this period of time and the people who were a part of it were to him. 

He had spent years navigating the road of life to achieve his dreams and desires. On the twisting journey he had traveled, he had become tempered and hardened. Yet his journey had instead taught him what he could have treasured. So it was now, decades later, that he found himself in front of the door that had once brought him the warmest comfort and the greatest solace. 

That long and winding path, which he had once found appealing, led him to what had once been his greatest treasure. It led him to the worn yellow door- one that promised a warm home, comforting hugs, and unconditional, beautiful love.

Author's Note

Didn't really give it all that much time, but I tried including elements I thought would make this (really) short story more 'emotionally moving,' despite the 350-400 word limit. Let me know where you think I can improve- if it's alright with you, of course! I hope you can ignore any format issues that may come up since it's my first time posting on WritersCafe.