Out There

A Story by Vanessa

He glanced around his now almost-empty bedroom. Spending the entire night, he managed to pack his entire life into two brown tattered suitcases and a backpack.

"It's finally happening...isn't it?"

His question was met with silence.

He walked towards the light switch in the room, flipped it off, and with a great exhale, flopped onto his mattress which was bare save a mere pillow and some sheets. Exhausted, he rubbed his face with his worn hands, yawned loudly, and slowly closed his eyes. Instead of the rest he so longed for, thoughts ravaged throughout his mind:

Who was going to watch over my home?
Would anyone realize I'm gone?
How would my flowers survive?

He chuckled softly at that last question, but eased his fears, it did not. In just a matter of hours, he'd be headed out on the road. Where was he going? Even he didn't have the slightest idea.

Sure, he could have picked an airline, booked his tickets, and had this trip planned way in advance, but that's the thing: He had not thought of actually doing it...not for real and, certainly, not now. He had his family. His school. His job. All he had ever known was in this place. To leave here had always been a thought, an idea, a dream.

Even still, he was not happy here.
It was the same routine day in and day out.
Where was the spontaneity? Where was the excitement?

"Certainly not here," he mumbled sleepily.
If he did not go now, he thought, there would be no telling if he'd ever be able to.

---

Turns out he did leave, rest assured.

Around six in the morning, he got up from his bed and went to the bathroom to splash water onto his face. "Well, then. No turning back now, huh?" His reflection smiled, and he got the answer he was looking for.

In less than an hour, he found himself standing at the front door with his bags at his side.

To be honest, he felt a little brokenhearted. It finally hit him that he was really leaving everything and everyone behind...
"This won't be for forever. I'll make sure to call everyone from the road."

This trip would clear his head. He was sure of it.

And with that, he turned and headed out the door. "I'll be back!" he shouted to the empty apartment. "I'll be back..."

---

People. People everywhere. If he looked to his right or left at the airport, he'd see couples and families caught in an embrace, either welcoming each other home or saying goodbye with tears close to the surface. He wasn't one for fanfare, but he suddenly longed for someone to see him off on his trip.

He eventually came to, shook his head to get the thought out, and took a step forward into the busy crowd.

---
He pulled out his phone.

"I'm scared."
"You should be. You are leaving the country after all. With no plans, whatsoever."
"Thank you for the words of comfort."
"You're welcome. Are you on the plane?"
"Yeah, just sat down."
"Have they locked the door?"
"...Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Good. Now you have no choice but to go through with this.

He thought for a minute before replying.

"Mind if I go through it with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Meaning, I hope you don't mind if I sleep over."
"!!!"

He chuckled to himself, leaned back in his seat, and gazed out the window.
And there he was, finally unafraid of the future.