Home, Sweet Home

"Zia, vieni a casa" (pause) "Dici sì!"
That was the heart-breaking point of the day. No one else saying these words would affect me, would make me cry. But his clear innocent voice and his sincere laughter have this power over me.

Home...what is home anyway? A place where you settle down. The place where you grew up. The place where you always feel comfortable. But more importantly it's the place where your heart sets its roots. I've always thought my home as a stifling place. A place that could have never quenched my thirst for life. Which is true in a way. I've always thought of myself as fire in ice, a burning flame stuck in a frozen land. Over time I've realised I'm much more like water, a placid river just flowing towards the sea.

In the meanders of life I ended up leaving my home, finding a new place to settle down and feel comfortable. And I do. But that's not what makes me cry with a couple of syllables. That's not where I go to look for comfort and affection. That's not where I know I will always be special, no matter what I achieve.

That's home. That's why it breaks my heart hearing my nephew say: "Auntie, are you coming home? Say yes!," and my answer is no. Not yet.