Out of the House

I was afraid, so very afraid of the world. It had been instilled in me at a very young age. Everyone is dangerous, you could be kidnapped, don't talk to strangers, don't walk behind cars, don't go anywhere without an adult.

But I loved to explore. I never wanted to go home when my family drove to a new town or I got to see distant relatives. I wanted to stay on vacation just a little longer. I wanted to roam for a while. At the house meant I would be trapped, confined to the small place we called a home. There was something that drew me to the outside world, to someplace other than here. It gave me a sense of freedom, a desire to experience the unknown.

I know now that it was trying to take me away from the nest I lived in, to force me to experience the world before I became to complacent with where I was. This sense of adventure was pushed deep down, as my parents said no, as they refused to go anywhere. Because now, I am still afraid, so very afraid of the world, but the difference is I don't ever want to leave where I am.