This is a story I wrote, inspired by the song "Stay" by Lisa Loeb.
Life in this town was like a day in a boring simulation game.
Everyday, the same things would happen. Everyday, the mailman would bring the letters to each home and chat with the residents. Everyday, the little kids in the neighborhood would play pranks on the old lady who lived three blocks away. Everyday, the old lady would open her window to yell at the little rascals and they would run away laughing. Everyday, the couple next door would argue about some petty little thing, and everyday, they would make peace with each other by nighttime. Everyday, my sister would complain about her boyfriend. And everyday, I would hang out with my best bud, Adrian, at central town. Same old. Same old.
I wanted to be free from this endless loop that is my life in this town.
That was why, one night, as I was talking to Adrian on the phone, I suddenly blurted out, “I'm leaving.”
“What?” He said in alarmed tone. “When? Where are you going? And when are you coming back? ”
“A month from now. I don't know. Somewhere. Anywhere. I just wanna get out of this place.” I said.
“...But why?” It was obvious that he was upset.
“I just don't wanna be trapped in this town.” I told him.
Adrian didn't speak for a moment, and when he did, his voice was low, soft, and fragile. “You're sounding a lot like my mom.”
Adrian's mom left him when he was 10 years old. We're 21 now, and he's moved on from it, but I know that there will always be a scar left in his heart because of what his mom did to him and his dad.
“I'm sorry, Adi. I didn't mean to make it sound that way. I just... I just wanna go out and live my life, not be dragged around by it.” I said.
“Can't you do that here, Chels?” He asked. “I know this ain't L.A. or New York, or Paris, or whatever glamorous place you have in mind, but this is our town. This is where we grew up.”
“That's exactly why. I want to go places I've never been to before, where I don't know everyone, and everyone doesn't know everyone else.” I explained to him.
“I know you've always dreamed of going places. And I know that it's gonna be great and important experiences, but...” He trailed off.
“It's gonna be great, Adi. Why don't you go with me? We can go anywhere we want!” I said to him.
“....to go...you...either.”
I couldn't hear him well. “What was that?”
“I can’t go. I’m needed here. And I wish you wouldn’t go either.” He said. “…Please stay.”
“I'm sorry, but I'm still going. I need this, Adi. You know I do. You said so yourself, it's gonna give me important experiences.”
He sighed. “I should've known there's no use talking you out of it. You've always been like this.”
“Like what?”
“You only hear what you want to hear.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked him.
“Exactly what it means.” He said. “I gotta go, dad's calling me for something.”
“Ok bye.” I said before we hung up on the phone.
A month after...
I said my farewells to my family and the neighbors. My sister cried, and the most profound of all, she didn't complain about her boyfriend, but instead, she thanked him for always being by her side, despite how mean she is to him sometimes. I guess you really do learn to appreciate what you have when you lose something. In this case, she was losing me, well, not exactly, but you get the idea.
I had my bags with me, and Adrian is helping me carry them. We walked down the street to the bus stop.
That morning, I didn't hear the arguing of the couple next door. It seemed like a good day.
As we waited for the bus to come, I saw the kids at the old lady's lawn. Surprisingly, they seemed to be getting along now. “She decided that the best way to make them stop was not by yelling at them, but by being nice to them.” Adrian informed me when he noticed my surprise.
I’ve been pretty busy for a while, because I processed several things for my leaving. I didn't expect things to change in that short a time. And a lot of things did. Gone was “same old”.
We got to the airport. It was a long ride, but hey, I was finally gonna go live my dream. I was a bit nervous, so it was a good thing that Adrian waited with me until it was boarding time.
“So this is it, huh.” He said when my flight was being flashed as NOW BOARDING.
“Yeah, it's finally happening.” I said with enthusiasm. Atleast, I think I did.
“Good for you.” He said with a sad smile. “Just....take care, okay?”
“I will.” I smiled at him.
“I should go now. It's time for you to head over there.” He said.
“Goodbye, Adi.”
He pulled me into a hug, and whispered to me, “I'll miss you.” When he finally pulled away, he suddenly kissed me on the lips. I was so shocked that I didn't say or do anything until after he was already gone.
What is this feeling?
Why am I feeling it?
Was it because Adrian kissed me?
No. No. I started feeling this even before that.
When we sat in silence, waiting for my plane's boarding.
When we were riding on the bus on our way here.
When I left for a while to process my papers.
When....
When did I start feeling this?
And....what should I do about it?
I heard music.
It was a guy singing something about not wanting his love to leave.
Now I'm missing you, and I'm wishing you would come back through my door.
Ooooh, why did you have to go?...
...Girl, you could've stayed but you wouldn't give me a chance...
My mind flashed back to the words he whispered in my ear. "I'll miss you."
And a month back, "Please stay." He said. Stay....
"Last call for passenger no.128, Chelsea Fieldman, please proceed to door D."
My thoughts became clear, and I did the one thing I should be doing.
I ran.