You sprinted across the garden, grinning madly, as your parents ran behind you – their laughter so infectious. A sudden obstruction in your path – you tripped and fell. Your father was there in an instant, checking the injury. He was unworried and soon after, you forgot all about it.
I remember you vividly – a thin, lanky figure, your hair tied up in pigtails and your teeth displayed in a wide smile.
You sat at the corner table in the cafeteria – usually with a book next to your food tray. Every now and then, one of your classmates would sit with you and enjoy a few minutes of chit-chat. However, the second they left, you would return to the novel at hand.
Though apparently you seemed to prefer your book, I realize now you must have wanted the company of your friends too.
There you are – you look quite older now. You sit with your friends at the table, engaging in light-hearted banter. There is an easy-going nature about you. Two years seem to have passed in no time at all.
Your smile, however, seems more reserved now. While you opened up to your close-knitted group, you still appear closed to the others.
As time passes, you slowly begin to lose your wild, carefree self. Instead, you grow more insecure and anxious.
When you glance at the mirror, you notice your flaws – no matter how desperately you try to hide them.
When you speak to an audience, you feel your legs wobble and you hesitate.
Now, when I look at you, I see you trying. You hope to regain your childhood self, to relive those memories, to learn to be high-spirited once again.
A sense of pride overwhelms me for I realize you have come a long way. A wide smile takes form and I let it be. For the first time, I feel as though you are one step closer to your childhood.
– By Anoushka Chopra, XB
