Return

     As I walked into town, I took a moment to gaze at the empty streets, recalling how noisy and bustling it used to be, as young Neopets would run around, while their mothers would be chatting to one another. But today the streets were barren, as the cold winds blew even harder. Shivering a little, I tightened my scarf, and walked on down the street.

     After a while, I stopped, resting on an iron gate. I then took a moment to look at the field just beyond it, where I used to play Neo-soccer and Neo-baseball when I was young, spending afternoons there and coming home with scrapes and bruises. I chuckled softly at the memories, and continued on, as the field was as empty as the streets.

     I then spotted an old, run down building. As I wiped dust off the windows, I peered inside, taking note of the broken tables and ancient food crumbs on the floor. This place certainly hadn't done as well as the last time I was here, when I used to buy fresh, hot doughnuts every week, relishing their flavour.

     The clouds started turning grey as I started down a winding road, pulling my jacket tightly around me. The air was turning chilly as the sun set, bathing the town in a cascade of orange. It caused me to stop for a minute, marveling at the beauty of it all, especially when I used to sit on a hill at the end of day, gazing at the setting sun. I then hurried on, wanting to get there before it was too dark to see.

     As I continued on, I noticed a lone young Bruce, hurrying while carrying a haversack, full of books. Apparently, he didn't want to get a scolding from his parents for being late, and ran into a house, slamming the wooden door, leaving me smiling at how at least he had shut the wooden gate, as I often forgot to do, causing wild Babbas to wander in, and I had to shoo them out again.

     A light rain then erupted from the clouds, forcing me to run into a nearby shelter. As I lit some twigs and leaves on the ground with my fiery breath, I shivered, but eventually just sat down and listened to the rhythmic pitter-patter of the rain on the roof, tapping my foot to it and making up imaginary songs in my head to the beat of the rain, as the lightning flashed and danced across the sky, illuminating the place.

     Eventually, the sky cleared, and I stepped gingerly back on to the street, taking care not to slip on the puddles of water. It had been an hour, and the sun had set. I picked up a twig and set it on fire, using it as a torch as I continued walking.

     I then stopped at a nearby mansion, which had bright lights and music streaming out of the windows. It appeared to be quite a bash, and I slowly walked up the steep pavement to the front of the house, tap-tap-tapping on the door.

     A few minutes passed before a Quiggle butler answered the door, looking amazingly like the one from the Gourmet Club. I was a bit taken back at the resemblance, but cleared my throat and asked, "Is Thomas here? I'd like to speak to him."

     The butler gave a discerning glance at me in my jacket, scarf and balaclava, which had patches in them that were sewn up using thread of the wrong colour, causing the colours to contrast. "Name, please?" he coughed, stepping inside.

     I hesitated for a while, then smiled and said, "Just tell him... that we've known each other since we were baby Neopets."

     The butler raised an eyebrow, then said, "Wait here, please." and stepped inside, closing the door.

     I patiently waited, letting my mind wander as I looked at a tree nearby, which had leaves slowly dropping off it. I started a rhythmic count in my head as the leaves dropped to the ground, leaving them scattered on the grass.

     Just as I had reached up to 572, the door opened again, and I was so surprised that I gave a sudden jolt, seemingly startling him as well, as if he hadn't known I had been standing outside for the past ten minutes.

     Regaining his composure, he gave a slight cough and said, "Master Thomas is not in. May I take a message?"

     My wings drooped slightly. "No... No, it's okay. I'll talk to him some other time." I walked away sadly, trying hard to believe the rather obvious lie and the laughter and lights coming from inside the house.

     I stepped back on the street again, this time my mind wavering as I tried not to focus on the bitterness I had felt back at the mansion. I choked a little under my breath, and then regained my composure, wiping away a tear that was streaming down my cheek, as the winds howled and screamed, seemingly mocking me.

     I finally reached where I had come back for, pulling out a key in my pocket and inserting it into the lock on the door. I slowly turned it, pushing the door open and stepping inside,

     The house was, expectedly, dusty, with a thick layer of it covering the floor and furniture, as my ruby scales caused me to stick out like a sore thumb. I slowly paced the floors, running a claw gingerly among a couch, making a mental note to clean the place up tomorrow.

     I yawned as I stepped into the bedroom, flicking on the lights and shutting the door. I took some time to glance around the room, which was as dusty as the others, with the exception of the bed, which was tightly covered by various other things, so as to remain dust-free. I tore them off, collapsing on it, exhausted.

     I peered around the room, taking note of the items around it, each invoking yet another memory from my childhood. A baseball. A half-completed stamp album. A skateboard with a wheel missing. A guitar, with signatures messily scribbled on it. I chuckled at some of the memories, while felt tears come to my eyes at others.

     I then noticed a photo frame on the desk beside the bed, and picked it up. Encased inside was a photo, having been ripped in half, the other half missing. In this half-photo, I could see a youthful Kougra, his red coat seemingly bouncy and full of life.

     I felt more tears stream down my face, as I remembered this photo. We were the best of friends, having such grand times together. Having known each other early in our lives, we were practically inseparable.

     My mood saddened as I remembered the day I had left. We had an argument that day- I can't remember what it was, it being so hazy, but our tempers flared, and in the end, we ripped this photo, the photo which featured the two of use, standing side by side with broad grins, in half. And with that tear, I felt like my heart was broken too, ripped to shreds and cast away, as if a part of me had flown away, leaving me incomplete. We then stalked off angrily, as I left the town, never to return... till today.

     I set the photo back on the table, sniffing and wiping away my tears. So much had changed throughout the time I had been gone, and I almost felt sorry that I hadn't been here. The images of this day danced in my head, vibrant and fresh.

     I noticed a dusty book lying beside the photo- had I missed that? Picking it up, I was once again greeted with memories. As I opened it and read page after page, tears once again trickled from my eyes, sogging the pages as I smiled weakly.

     I stole a glance at my clock. It was late- the book would have to wait till tomorrow. I snuggled down under the covers, my imagination running wild, as the wind screeched outside and braches shook in it, creating a natural symphony that shook the place. I was so glad to have come back...

     I closed my eyes contentedly, and drifted off into slumber...

The End