It Was A Long Way Home
Malia Paasch

It was a long way home. A long way and I'm not talking about the distance. It seemed to me things weren't right, something was unconnected and there's so many wires running around it you can't quite get your finger on that one. As I drove the lights, signs, and sounds had no meaning, they were just tacky decorations; bright and annoying. They all just seemed to rush past me in the blurs of my emotions. Once in a while I would heed to what a sign said, only enough to keep me alive long enough to reach the end of it. No one seemed to be on the road, I glanced at the clock; it was much later than I had expected. I didn't anticipate staying so long, or being there at all tonight. Life was getting off lately, and I desperately wanted to get back on, but then again I didn't. See, there I go, that 'off-ness' again. It's
fun riding the train, "Ticket, please? Ah one way to normalcy I see. . . good luck." It's fun until you realize that the train never goes anywhere, you never
get off, but you figure it's what you're supposed to do since so many others tend to follow the same suit. But, why?

The stars were particularly shiny and pellucid in the vast midnight blue. It amazed me how they never stop, even when you can't see them. Meteors are my favorite, or as they are romantically called, shooting stars. I caught a glimpse of one that night, a sudden streak of light, almost like it had never happened, but I did and I was thankful. I needed something to wish on,
even if it was just a silly meteor falling into the Earth's atmosphere and catching fire before it even gets a chance to land anywhere.

I wished for tonight back, to re-do everything, every feeling and touch. Every single moment I wanted to imprint into my mind to forever hold it with me, never letting go. I'd hold on forever. That wish was ubiquitous in me, I wanted it all, all the smells, tastes, and sounds; to experience it all again but
be super sensitive to all the sensory details. Tonight I'd felt that I was 'on' while being 'off' and now I believe I truly that's where I'm supposed to be.
The train ride had started to bore me, so I hopped off of that fast moving train to the middle of nowhere into her arms.