The Path of Fate

If you met your younger self, what would you want to say to them?

I walked alone on the barren sidewalk that day.

No one accompanied me, not even my beloved headphones.

With the once-shy sunlight beaming down on me, I began to think about how bright Spring days were in my youth. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of the slight mildew, the familiar scent of war summers. Almost immediately, nostalgia comes creeping back into my mind. And I can see it clearly. My 7-year old self gleefully riding on a scooter down the street. Jumping from the old trampoline into the short-lived inflatable pool, sometimes even with clothes still on. On occasion, she would head to the nearby baseball park and dance under the big Weeping Willow tree, hoping to one day find a friend who would give her as much shelter as the Weeping Willow did. Ever since that one stormy day she lost her true confidante, she had to pick up her own pieces and messily glue them back together.

I opened my eyes.

Suddenly, my surroundings did not look familiar. It was the same street, the same houses, and the same blue sky, but it felt all too different. Nevertheless, my legs continued walking. It didn't take that long for me to see her. Even though we are the same person, her appearance still continued to baffle me. While I had the dyed hair and stronger body, she still had that skinny physique and natural light-brown long locks. At last, our eyes met. The crummy old scooter slowly dropped to my slanted driveway, and she stood right in front of me.

Neither of us said a word.

The peaceful yet eerie silence remained, until she managed to speak. "You look so familiar. Who are you?" she asked, her voice timid yet brimming with curiosity. I couldn't help but smile a little bit. We definitely had the same slightly deep voice, that was for sure. "I...am you. I'm Haley, 11 years from now." My answer astonished her, of course. "So wait... You're me in the future?! Wow! What happens? Is my life so much more better and awesome yet?" She asked gleefully. Despite the excitement her words held, her eyes told a more somber story. That's when it all hit me.

She was me before the heavy damage. Sure, there was the tender scars of a dysfunctional family and the cruelty of her peers, but she had no idea what was to come. The break-ups. The mental anguish caused by the relentless media and her so-called friends. The attempts to escape from herself and her own life. I wanted to cry and warn her at the same time. To shake her almost violently and beg her; "Please! Do not do it! Make better decisions and change your life for the better!" I wanted to, but I realized something. Can you really change fate? Is it possible to go back in time and stop yourself from making poor choices? The answer was no. I set my own path. I burned my own bridges. And now it may finally be time to start building again. "I'm so sorry," I finally uttered. "I'm sorry that you aren't a better person. I'm sorry about the pain and what I have done to you and your spirit." With those last words, the nostalgia faded and I was back on the barren path.

And that is why I walked alone.

Author's Note

Penned this morning. Felt inspired and had been thinking of this sort of situation for a very long time. Let me know what you think! :)

Reviews

[dan]

Haley, Looking behind one's self at all the bridges burned can have different results, depending on inner strength and beauty. One can ruefully mourn the ones that burned or work doubly hard to build newer, stronger spans. This piece is so well-conceived and well-written, you possess a special talent. I am accepting your friend request but wanted to come here to show you I take my reviewing responsibilities seriously for my friends. If you send me read requests it will make it easier to keep up with you. Thank you! take care...dan

[Haley Wilson]

Thanks Dan! And awesome, good to know. :)

[Hannah Porter]

This is amazing. So pure and honest. You should be very proud of your talent Haley! :)

[Haley Wilson]

Aw thank you Hannah!! :)

[Pryde Foltz]

A wonderful and detailed write.

[Haley Wilson]

Thanks dear!

[Chadvonswan]

Pain is usually the first thing we put down on paper because we're so familiar with it. This was a remarkable piece of prose and came off very personal. The awareness at the end was the epiphany and concluded something that can't really be concluded. Very nice write Haley (:

[Haley Wilson]

Thanks doll! Xx

[wordman]

life goes a lot faster than we like, I have done the same things,
but the future is not really ours to see, we can plan, but who knows
when you go back home it never looks the same. great write

[Haley Wilson]

Thanks so much! :)

[wordman]

my pleasure

[AaronFreitas]

Man... if I could meet my younger self what would I say? Well if I went back to when I was your age I would have so much good advice for my younger self! haha Only if it was that easy. We learn from our choices, grow in our mistakes. Yet, I sure do wish I could do a back to the future moment :) Good work

[Haley Wilson]

So true though! Glad you liked it. Xox

[Jamestown]

This piece is marvelous, if we could pre-warn ourselves of whats to come would be
amazing, saving ourselves of a ton of hurt and suffering for sure, but this can't
happen, so we must do are best to weave our way through this crazy life, wonderful
thought provoking piece, thanks for sharing and b-blessed!

[Haley Wilson]

Thanks dear! Means a lot. :)