Ymmtmtyek

It was freezing outside, the entire field was covered in a blanket of white. His clothes weren't sufficient enough to stop the chills from running up his spine. He rubbed his palms together, they felt raw, almost as if they were meat fresh from the freezer rushing to be thawed. This winter was one of the harshest ones he had ever seen in his life. He stood before the door to the lovely farm house, his home. There was a nice orange glow emitting softly from the house windows behind the curtains.

It was going to be an awesome surprise for his mother, he had not returned for nearly seven weeks. His teeth rattling and body shivering, the boy raised his hand to press the bell. The frost that was left on the bell did not quite affect it's operation. Before long he could hear footsteps.

"Remember to eat regularly, if you don't like it please come home anytime, I will always be here for you. I promise."

The door swung open and the warm glow of light instantly engulfed him. It felt good, it felt like an eternity since he left. Before him, his mom stood, utter shock on her face. She clasped her mouth quickly to keep a little squeal from escaping.

"I'm home, ma."

"Oh my god! You are finally back home my dear!"

They embraced. The warm hug was the exact thing he needed after being away for so long. It certainly warmed more than his body, it gave a nice fuzzy feeling to his heart.

"You must be freezing, come in quick, you're just in time for dinner!"

He took a quick glance around. Everything looked all too familiar and for a second it felt like he just wanted to stay in that moment forever. The fireplace was crackling with delight, it's embers radiating delightful heat waves to the entire room. The living room looked exactly like it did before he left, same old pictures, same old oak grand piano, same old comfy couches. His favourite arm chair was still in it's original position, the one where he spent hours just lazing on it with a good book in hand. It was just a summer ago, but it already felt like old memories.

"Take off your shoes and change out of those wet clothes, dinner will be ready in ten minutes, your room is exactly how you left it, I am just so glad that you're back I can't wait to tell your father!"

"Thanks ma, it's good to be home."

Soon, the smell of roast meat and garlic bread greeted his nostrils. He had almost already forgotten how much he missed home cooked food. It's when you're alone when you realise that everything that you took for granted previously was more precious than you would ever know.

He closed the door behind him and the warmness he felt was indescribable. All the places that he had stayed on his adventure, all they had to offer was a house. A house only becomes a home when the heart is back. The welcome mat never felt so snug beneath his cold feet before. He had missed home so much his bones ached for it.

This moment in time, he had to savour it while it lasted. He closed his eyes, the hours that past had faded into days which had faded into months and the months into years. The years have not been kind to him.

He opened his eyes.

He found himself still standing infront of the door in the cold.

He reached out his hand and pushed open the unlocked door, it creaked loudly as a strong gust of wind swung it open fully.

Empty wooden boards, dust and darkness.

He had been gone for too long.