The Boy

I decided to be a little less traditional in my memories of MVNU.

The Boy

The boy let out a long sigh as he stepped out of the low lit classroom that had become his home from eleven thirty to two thirty every weekday for the last month. He did not know what to think about the time he had spent in the various buildings across the small campus. He had invested so many hours to the study of books for the purpose of learning for his own benefit. Numerous hours talking to irreplaceable friends and hearing their stories while sharing his own had been well spent. As he took one step at a time down the stairs, his shoes squeaked and it reminded him of childish days when he had come in from the rain to bother his mother with obnoxious sounds. He remembered being a child; how it felt to not have a care in the world of which to speak.

As he exited the double doors of the first floor he was greeted by a chilling breeze. He stepped out onto the snow that lay over a thin sheet of ice. He loved stepping on the untainted snowfall and cracking the ice below. It took him back to the days of childhood yet again. He looked out to see so many people walking alone, heads buried in their hoods or scarves or ski masks. There were so many good people here. There were so many people he was going to miss dearly. There were so many memories that snow alone brought to his mind. The first snow of freshaman year, sledding in eighteen inch weather, and snow ball fights all came to the forefront of his mind. He wanted to stay. He wanted to remain. But inside he knew his life lay on another path. He knew his calling was elsewhere. This did not mean he would never see these blessed souls again. It simply meant he may not see them in the body to which he had become so accustomed.

As he reached his apartment, he looked around inside and recalled evenings of fun playing games, crying because of women, and frustration from disagreements. So much emotion had been felt in such small square footage. So much love. Love between brothers, and even sisters. This love was something the boy had never known before he came to this place. He knew what love was supposed to be like from books he had read and movies that he had seen. But never until this place, had he encountered the powerful brotherly love that was anything but ordinary. Here, love felt like a free gift.
Here, love felt like a refreshing rain.
Here, love felt like a comforting hand.
Here, love felt as he knew it should.
Here, love compelled him to love in return.
Before, he knew the rules. Now, he knew the actions.

The boy wanted so badly to keep what he knew. He wanted to keep still and be comfortable, but the life of comfort was never for him. It would never be for him. He would find what he was truly meant to do, and he would do it. That was the plan anyway.

As he said his goodbyes to all his friends, he did not feel any pain. But then, after the last two bid him farewell, when he got in the car he started crying. He knew in an instant that it was not simply because of those two. It had finally hit him that all these people would be left behind. But then he was struck with great joy. He knew that he would see them again. He knew in his heart that this was not the end of the story, and he had no reason to let sadness overcome him. He would find joy. His joy came from somewhere no one else could touch. He held on to that joy. He was a man now, but no matter how old he got, he would always feel like a boy.