No Place Like Home

The Lips of Life



Prologue: No Place Like Home



The sensuous sea stole my sight once again. Its breath filled my lungs as usual. As a kid it use to be daily that I allowed myself to be captivated by home. The sunny beach and waves which frowned towards my feet, then fled with a smile. Being that I’d finally accomplished following my fathers mechanical engineering footsteps, I wanted to come back to see home again.



There’s no place like home and home doesn’t have to necessarily be the place where you live, but where your mind finds peace. In my case, it was the unique, yellow beach. Each step I took, in or out the water was warm to the bottom of my feet. From my soul to my soles, there’s no place like home.



I walked into the waves until it arrested my knees. I piercingly gazed down into the glass water. There I saw a boy grow up with many social problems. Always having good ambitions, but no one appreciated his sacrifices. The boy continued to morph into a young adult, then a proud man. Pride fully following his dreams then dragging his dormant destiny to where he wanted. As the man gained a few ages, I saw me. Brown neck length hair styled into a ponytail, my matching eyes exuding tainted excitement I didn’t show externally. However, the sea glistened and the wave’s tranquility still moved my missing marry mood. It always had that affect. Even when I was younger the sea borrowed my attention. At that moment it still brought numb nostalgia.



I remembered when I was in my early teens. I was running in the sand with my friends Jason and Mira. Free spiritedly, we happily dashed about. Eventually the mirages of us appeared in front of me. I heard the playful giggles and the soothing smiles. That was all there was to do as kids while at home. So the mirages mimicked my memories until they faded on contact with someone in front of me. I slowly looked up from her blue flip-flops, to her matching dress then her aesthetic face covered with thin brown hair strands. I was mesmerized by the coincidence that I faced. I was sufface with my childhood friend Mira.



“Hey Micheal it’s been a long time,” Mira happily stated.



I calmly replied asking,” It has. What have you been up to?”



She answered, “Well I’m on vacation right now. Medical school begins in a few weeks. What about you, has the Mechanic thing been working out?”



I replied happily saying, “Yea it did! I’m on the verge to having my own business.”



Mira and I smiled off of our faces. The aroma of our happiness of seeing each other could make Satan jolly. However, the horizon’s effulgence magnified to claim our captivity. So we turned back to the beautiful sun. Its radiance gave us a nostalgic, yellowish tone. The sun still couldn’t take all of my attention. As I looked into my friends eyes, I saw the blue ocean and an oasis.



I politely said,”Hey Mira, it’s a huge coincidence that we both ended up here. What possessed you to come?” Mira didn’t immediately respond. She folded her hands behind her back, and then turned to look at me to sadly say, “I really can’t answer that. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. You know, ever since that big argument with you and Jason, I never heard from you.”



I defended myself by arguing, “I tried to apologize, but Jason wasn’t himself. He was consumed by pride. Awkwardly, when I left the next day for college I’d lost my cell phone. I didn’t purposely loose contact with you.”



Mira exhaled deeply, then quietly said, “That’s hard to believe, but somehow I can’t shake the feeling your being honest.



“I am Mira! I just want you to believe me. I missed you guys and still do.” I intercepted my innocent words to grab Mira’s hands. I gained her complete attention and the serenity in her ocean eyes. Then I continued, saying, “ I never wanted you to be thrown in the middle of everything. To be able to cure this burden would make us all happy. Right?”



Everything grew loud in silence, except the seas siren sound.



Eventually, in an almost silent tone Mira replied, “I miss the good days, me, you, and Jason always together, never to be separated.”



I gently replied,” I do too. Maybe we’ll be reunited. I believe fate has something in store for us.” “Well, are you ready to buy it!” A mysterious but familiar voice shouted. Me and Mira turned to see Jason coming our way. He always kept his blond hair neat, and that time his brown goatee was clean also. He was dressed casually in complete white. He put one of his arms on each of our shoulders. As a reflex, we looked at each other simultaneously. Afterwards, the near finished sunset smiled at the sight of what it nurtured.



“It’s strange that we all ended up here,” I said. Then Jason replied, “It’s no coincidence. I had a dream that reminded me of the good times.”



Mira turned to both of us before suggesting, “Lets make new ones.”



We all agreed. The sun bid it’s final farewell. Happy to see us together, it descended in peace. I believe all of our souls did that day. We had a party at the hotel we all were somehow booked in. Later we went on Jason’s yacht and continued to party. We met his wife, daughter and a lot of their family. However, I was left with a gloomy soul. It became annual that we went on Jason’s yacht, he is a billionaire. Every time we went, I felt that something was still wrong. I was destined to do something, but what?



Once again we were on Jason’s yacht, three years after our reunion. It corrested the face of the sea, while the sun did the same for me. As we rocked, everything still seemed still. I looked at the waters mirror, observing myself. Sitting on the rail, ignoring the fact that I could fall at any giving time. My heart told me things weren’t going to end that way, so I proceeded with no fear. The gentle breeze felt soothing upon contact with my flesh. I smiled at the feeling, with my white dress shirt not fully buttoned up. My tie was loose freely blowing with the wind. As for my black slacks, they’d gained wrinkles from having “fun,” along with a stain on my shirt.



“What’s wrong, you should be inside partying Mike,” Jason said. I didn’t turn to him at first, but he put his hand on my shoulder. I’ll admit his blue linen suit and white shoes were sharp, but at the time my mind was sucked into a hole of thought. It slowly decayed when Jason continued the conversation,” Chill out man, I don’t know what’s bothering you, but I can help you if you like.



I aggressively replied,” Money can’t buy everything Jason.” Staying cool he replied,“ I’m here as your friend. Still to this day I want to apologize for that fight. It’s a burden that I wanted to get rid of for so long.”



I paused in a state of surprise. I actually took a while to say something back,“ Apology accepted, but I feel bad too. It’s good to know nothing’s holding back our friendship.” With a long awaited smile, Jason replied,” Don’t mention it. Even though we’re grown men, I still have no problem saying best friend forever.” I chuckled before saying, “ Yeah, best friends till the grave.” Me and Jason smashed our fist together. It was a symbol of triumph, and that day we’d beaten the biggest foe yet, grudge. But that wasn’t the only battle I faced. I had one more that I had to win, but no one could help me, so I thought.



Mira was walking our way with her usual smile. Jason grabbed my arm, then yanked me off the rail. I didn’t fall, but Jason kept his lips close to my ear. He whispered,” Money can’t buy everything, but it can buy that ring you were looking at last week.” Jason put a small black box in my hand, then closed it. He continued on,” I remember how you use to like Mira growing up and she told me how she still likes you. Now’s your chance.” I whispered back,” I owe you big time.” Walking off he said,” It’s just an addition to my apology, hey Mira.” Mira waved at him, then stopped in front of me.



“Hey Mira,” I softly said. She began fixing my clothes while saying, “ Look at you, you’re a mess. That’s what you get for all them lap dances.” I grinned with a slight laugh. Me and Mira couldn’t help but to get loss in each others eyes. So we turned away blushing. The sun was setting slowly, waiting for one, single moment.



“It’s like a mother. No matter were I go, she’s always there,” Mira lowly stated. All I could reply with was,” Yeah.” Mira saw the nervousness in me, but my eyes radiated something else. She looked down at the floor, then noticed my singly clinched fist. So she asked,” What’s in your hand?” All I said was,” Nothing.” Mira always knew when I was lying, so took it upon herself to find the truth, “Then show me.”



Mira fought with me to get my hand open, but it came to an end when I pinned her against the rail to say,” Alright, it’s something, something big.” I dropped down to one knee, looking at the ground. I shifted my view up to Mira’s eyes. I saw the ocean, regaining my composer. She looked unsure, but knew the next few words that were about to erupt from my mouth. I released the tight grip of my hand, revealing the black box. I slowly and dramatically opened it exposing the diamond ring. I let the dormant words slip out my mouth with a passionate tone,” Mira. Will you marry me?”



The tears began to drip from Mira’s eyes making them a waterfall moreover then an ocean. I quickly rose up to stop the raging waters, but she gripped my hands. I dropped the box as Mira kissed me. That was when the sun finally set. Once again it was content to see it’s children prosper. And from that day forward, I always had that once obscure marry mood, every time I visited home.



The synonym to peace; home, where our feet drift from, but our hearts are bound.