Four Months to Live: Part 2

An unpublished novel

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If you haven’t read chapter 1: click here.

Chapter Two: Leaving Home

There comes a time when the walls of home start to feel smaller than the dreams inside your head.

You become so restless with the urge to fulfill your purpose of life that your own comfort zone starts to feel unbearable.

I grew up but my dream never changed — it only evolved. My passion grew with age and I kept looking for ways for making it real.

Then it came — my golden ticket.

One of my friends told me about a program being held online.

He couldn’t apply himself, so he referred me.

They were looking for a tour guide and weren’t expecting much. They just needed somebody who could travel without any complain. The pay wasn’t much but all the necessities were covered.

For somebody else, this would’ve been a small opportunity. For some, it would be crazy. I mean, who would want to leave their home behind?

But for a mad person like me, it was finally an “escape.”

An escape from boredom, from expectations, from people and from my current life.

It was the door to making my dream a reality.

I couldn’t say no.

— — — — — — — - — — — — — — — — - — — — — - — — — - — — — — -

Forms were filled, emails were sent, and just like that — I was hired.

I couldn’t contain my excitement. I wanted to sing in my cracking voice, to dance to the silliest tunes.

I wanted to celebrate but there was no one to understand my joy.

I wanted to shout to the world, “I’m coming now, and one day I’ll make you mine!”

But there was still one last thing stuck in my throat like a swinging sword — one wrong move and it would all come crashing down.

I still had to tell my family.

I didn’t expect their support… but I had to tell them.

And that was the part I feared the most.

— - — — — - — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — - — — — -*

“You want to do what now?”, my father said hiding his anger.

“I want to travel, Papa,” I pleaded,

“I’ve even got the opportunity now,” I said bringing out the contract I signed.

He shoved them aside and shouted while slamming the table hard,

“Travel the world? Meet different people- this boy has gone mad!”

“You filled the form without asking me and now you’re just telling me that?!!!” He shouted again.

“You’re still studying and there’s no way you’re gonna do such a low paying job!

Do you not see your brother? He’s earning a handsome salary just because he listened to me.” He pointed out to the trophies won by my brother.

Then, he calmed down and said,

“It’s just passing phase; you’ll get over it. Trust me, we’ve all been there.”

I wanted to be quiet and persuade him calmly but the wild child within me shouted,

“NO, NO, NO, NO… YOU haven’t been there. You never had a DREAM As WILD as mine. You were a COWARD!!

A COWARD that turned his back on his dreams and listened to the world!

I’m done being compared to others and I’m done listening to you all my life!!!!

And brother, he’s another fool for listening to you, for not having a dream and for not chasing his passion.

We only get one chance — one life and I don’t want to sacrifice it just because you said so.

I’m leaving and that’s my last decision!”

“LEAVE then, LEAVE the house tomorrow!” he said raging.

“We all need an ACCIDENT to LEARN”, He said one last time then left.

My mom kept persisting and begging to my father, “He’s still a child, don’t tell him to leave like that!”

She, then turned to me and said with a low voice,” Do you really want to leave? After all these years?”

“Yes, mom. It’s my dream,” I replied softly.

“Please don’t, what will I do without you?”, She said begging.

“You’ll be alright. Good night, mom.” I smiled, bracing myself.

Then I went to my room to prepare for tomorrow.

That night, I thought I had won the argument.

Looking back now, it feels like it was never about winning at that moment.