Your mother awaits you. Her eyes show relief. She hugs you, tight. You can feel your eyes getting wet as tears start to form.
“Charlie- I don’t care if you can’t do it. I just want you home.”
You can’t hear her. Your ears are ringing. Maybe it’s stress, maybe it’s fear or even shame, but you collapse in her arms.
“Don’t do this, you don’t need to become somebody. You are you.”
You nod. Wiping the tears off your cheeks.
The next few years are a blur. A great big boring blur. You dropped out of school, following your father’s footsteps as a farmer. You refused to take a risk, a chance.
Known as “Charlie the Cowardly Chicken Farmer”, you manage to survive. The once-in-a-while shun doesn’t bother you, you’re too busy living. Blissful ignorance takes hold in your life and you can’t help but wonder.
What could have been?
End of chapter 1. You regret your decision.