1 Far From the Past

I didn't realize how important time was. I locked myself up to a slew of broken promises, never looking back at my selfishness. Time is really unforgiving, and it was too late for me to realize.

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In the summer of 2004, near the seashore of a dimly lit town, the sound of the ocean hitting the sand echoed through the nearly empty roads. I remember playing in the house of a girl named Michelle. We were the only kids who were the same age in the neighborhood that's why I would always visit her house.

I knocked on the door and turned the knob. Several toys and doll houses were scattered inside. A medicine cabinet was in the corner of the room, full of multicolored boxes. A clock begins to buzz, followed by the sound of a frail voice.

"Can you please get me the medicine inside the cabinet? It's inside the blue one."

I opened the cabinet and grabbed the small blue box and brought it to a thin, sickly looking girl with black hair. She opens it and takes one of the pills inside. No more than a few minutes, the medicine had taken effect; now she spoke in a much livelier voice.

"Thank you, Marcus. We can play now. How about we play our own version of hide and seek again?"

I nod and she starts to countdown from 10. This version of hide and seek was tailored for Michelle. She stays in her bed and closes her eyes, then I hide somewhere inside the room.

I silently walked towards a big chest and opened it. Inside was a collection of plastic dolls. I wriggled inside the chest, and winced at the stench of old wood.

"3...2...1! Ready or not, here I come! I'll be sure to win this time!" said Michelle, excited to guess where my hiding spot is.

"Are you in the closet?" she asks. I hold in my laughter.

"You're under the bed, aren't you?" she says, unsure that she's found me. I could not hold my laughter any longer, and a slight giggle came out of my mouth. I quickly covered my lips before she could hear it.

"Hmmm… behind the curtains!" she declares, as winds from the outside move the curtain revealing no one. Rays of orange light flowed into the room, the light reflecting on Michelle's jade green eyes, her eyes glowed like the sea in the sun. "I lose. You can come out now." she sighed.

I jumped from the chest, along with me are several dolls that scattered across the floor.

"Did I surprise you?" I asked. She looks at me with a calm face. "Of course not." Michelle smiles.

I catch my breath and ask "So what do you wanna play next?" She looks around the room, and spots the dolls that were previously scattered on the floor.

"Let's play roleplay. We'll use the dolls as our characters, so choose whoever you want." said Michelle. I checked out all the interesting dolls and spotted a prince in silver armor that wore a glistening golden crown. I grab it and I try to imitate the voice of a dashing young prince.

"I am Prince Marcus of Marcusland." I said, mimicking a deep serious voice.

Michelle stands from her bed slowly, and grabs a woman that was wearing a black dress.

"I am Michelle the Witch. I will destroy everything!" Michelle said, trying to imitate a mischievous voice.

Suddenly the door opened, and the scent of cigarettes and coffee filled the room. A tall man with brown hair wearing a suit , peeked from the gap of the door. His gaze was like an arrow piercing through my chest. A deep voice comes out of his mouth.

"Did you take your meds?" asked the man.

"Yes, dad." Michelle replied.

"Don't tire yourself from playing, I'm working overtime today, so I won't be home tonight." The man closes the door before Michelle could say goodbye.

"Who was that?" I asked Michelle. It was the first time I had seen the man, even though I have already been to her house multiple times.

She looks at me and smiles, "That was my dad. He's always gone because of work, so I have to stay healthy so that I won't bother him." There was a hint of sadness behind those words. An awkward silence befell the room.

...

I grab the prince and witch doll and try to cheer her up. I make the dolls hug and apologize to each other. Then I look outside to see the golden sky, as warm wind enters the room through the window.

"I want to see the ocean one day. It isn't really visible from here. To play in the sand and tan in the sun. I wonder what that feels like." said Michelle, a glimmer of bewilderment igniting in her eyes. "Do you think I'll be able to see the sunset one day?" she asks.

"I promise we'll see the sunset together." I told her.

"You didn't answer my question." said Michelle, as she gave me a weak smile. Michelle looks at the clock and looks back at me. The light turns on outside. The luminescent glow of the lamps outside fill the streets. She glances outside then turns to me.

"It's late already, shouldn't you be going home?" she asks. I nod in response.

"Take the doll we played with earlier, it's my way of saying thank you. It will also be the token of our friendship." said Michelle.

"Are you sure? I'm sure these dolls are important to you." I ask.

"Keep them so that whenever you look at those dolls, you'll remember me." she smiles.

"Thank you." I give her a bright face. It was the first time I had ever gotten toys from a friend. I look outside to see the sun almost completely gone.

"I should probably go before my dad comes pick me up, I don't want another spanking from him." I tell Michelle.

"Goodbye, Marcus. See you again tomorrow." said Michelle.

"Goodbye. See you again tomorrow, Michelle." I reply.

I was holding the dolls Michelle gave me, I wanted to tell my mom I had gotten a present from a friend, but as I was heading home, I saw my father slamming the front door open, looking agitated. I hide behind the corner and watch him get inside his car. He drives off without noticing me.

I enter the house and find my mom crying on the floor. Broken vases and chinaware all around the house. Everything inside is a mess. I rush towards my mom and ask what happened. She continues to cry, and eventually she catches her breath and stands up.

"We have to leave right now." said my mom.

"But-" I was stopped short by the angry voice of my mom.

"I SAID NOW!" my mother shouted.

I went upstairs and hurriedly packed my belongings. I never let go of the dolls that were given to me, I wanted to show my mom how happy I was to get them. But that time would never come.

Because just like that, the hometown I was born and raised in, was fading in the mirror of the cab of a mother and son who had nowhere to go. I was holding tightly to the dolls that were given to me. I promised myself that I would never forget the one who gave me these dolls. No matter how many years have passed.

After traveling all night, we reach a big city full of tall skyscrapers. My mom goes to an ATM to get cash. A beeping noise comes from the machine as she swipes her card.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

She makes a phone call, and after a few minutes a black car arrives. My mother briefly talked with the man inside, then was given money. She puts it in her wallet and she signals me to follow her.

We climbed up the stairs and upon reaching the second floor, we went straight through the hall and saw multiple stains along the floor. We reach the end of the hall and my mom opens the door.

"This is where we'll be living now." said my mother.

The room was full of newly put boxes. There was a small TV in the middle of the room, as well as an old couch. There was a stench coming from the kitchen, as we could smell it even at the door. We enter the house and put our belongings on the floor. I wasn't used to traveling, I was tired and still confused as to what was going on.

My mother showed me a room that was nearly empty, only a bed and a cabinet was inside. "This'll be your new room." she says. She leaves and closes the door behind her. I drop my belongings on the floor, then put the dolls on the bed.

I felt drowsy, so I laid next to the dolls. My eyes felt heavy, I was still confused as to what was happening. I hug the dolls that Michelle gave me, they made me remember hope. I fell asleep, embracing the last memories I had of my hometown. Not knowing that the future was full of despair.