"Some had a whole epic, others just a Verse."

- Song of Achilles ( Madelaine Miller)

2 YEARS LATER

I was feeling pretty exhausted and burnt out the entire week. Maybe it was just me, or it was just the aftermath of reading a sad, but achingly beautiful book. A wave of sadness came over me as all of my memories came flooding back.

Tears falling, I looked down at my arms where the scars were. The memory ... It was too painful and I couldn't bear it. As more tears fell, I hugged myself tightly, telling myself that everything would be okay, that I would be okay.

The sound of the alarm jarred me awake. I was on the couch. Slowly, I got up, not remembering what time it was when I'd fallen asleep the night before. Blocking the rays of sunlight as they streamed in through the window, and wishing I didn't have to get up, I forced myself to stand. Then, walking like a zombie, I went into the bathroom to start my usual, daily routine of brushing my teeth.

Avoiding looking at myself in the mirror so I didn't have to see the signs of all of the crying I'd done the night before from the night before, I threw on my running clothes and immediately went into the kitchen. I grabbed an apple and took a bite as I made myself a cup of tea. I added steamed milk and some sugar and then drank it slowly, noticing how its heat clouded the cup.

After finishing both the apple and tea, I left. I left. Stepping outside the cold air hit me with a surprising force that made it seem surprisingly colder than what I imagined it would be. My breath came out in puffs as I walked to the park to start my exercise. But when I got there, I saw that only a small number of people were there. Normally there were more.

It was good since I did not like crowds anyways ignoring how strange it was, I put on my headphones, selected a random playlist, and started to run. It was a comfort; I didn't have to think about anything, just myself and my breathing as I ran. I was moving forward, and that somehow soothed me. Soon my entire body began to warm up and my breathing became heavier as I pushed harder and faster.

After finishing both the apple and tea, I left. Stepping outside the cold air hit me with a surprising force that made it seem surprisingly colder than what I imagined it would be. My breath came out in puffs as I walked to the park to start my exercise. But when I got there, I saw that only a small number of people were there. Normally there were more.

It was good since I did not like crowds anyways ignoring how strange it was, I put on my headphones, selected a random playlist, and started to run. It was a comfort; I didn't have to think about anything, just myself and my breathing as I ran. I was moving forward, and that somehow soothed me. Soon my entire body began to warm up and my breathing became heavier as I pushed harder and faster.

Suddenly my phone started to buzz. I slowed down to see who would be calling. I smiled, it was my mum. I answered it. "Elias, I miss you so much! You didn't pick up my call yesterday and I was worried!" In the background of her call, I could hear that she wasn't alone, but ignored the sounds, focusing only on her.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I couldn't call you because of work. I was given an important task and I had to stay up all night to complete it. Anyway, what about you? "

"Well, I did nothing much. I bought the groceries and some new furniture." She sighed and I could hear the exhaustion in her voice as she added," I forgot how difficult it was to shift homes. Also, at what time is your flight today?"

" It's in a few hours."

" Okay go pack your things and don't forget anything important."

" Yes, mum. I won't" I ended the call after telling her to get some rest, and that I would see her soon."

My mom and I had always been close, closer than I'd been with any of my other family members. Since I was a very little boy, she'd told me that she wanted me to be happy, to have someone to lean on when things got too difficult ... unlike my dad had been for her. My mum never voiced it to me, and she never asked me if I'd overheard them, but one night seven years ago, during an argument between them, her voice became shrill as she confronted him about his cheating on her.

There was a long pause, a terrible pause. I waited, as I imagined she waited. But his denial never came. I heard her start to cry angrily and then him trying his best to soothe her through her cursing and telling him to leave her alone. Ever since that night, there had been an obvious strain between them that somehow included me, too. And following that terrible argument, though he was still kind to me, the opportunity for us, me and him, to build a closer bond seemed to be lost.

I shook my head trying to get rid of all the thoughts. It was time for me to go and pack my stuff I didn't want to think about my childhood any further.

I went straight to my apartment, after getting some muffins from a bakery. I packed all the essentials, my passport, my medicines and obviously my clothes along with some shoes.

As I was closing the door to my apartment, all memories came flooding back. I came here three years ago for work and even though my experience was not nice, I had still grown attached to this place. I resigned from work 2 days ago and no one knew about it. I had lied to my mom as well. I was once again running away from here as once ran away from home. 

I walked slowly, taking in everything on my way to the airport. I took a long look at the people there. I observed a group of kids playing while their mothers were giggling about something. There was a girl sitting there alone but she was smiling, and she looked happy. Some people were walking talking about work and some were simply on their phones, and others doing nothing

They went out of sight as I boarded the plane. We were provided dinner soon since it was almost time. I had a chicken sandwich and some fruits. Afterward, I got my bag and found my sleeping pills. I took out one tablet. I popped it into my mouth, picked up the water and took a long drink, and swallowed it.

I put on my headphones and decided to watch the newest episode of 'The Taxi Driver', I picked up my laptop, turned it on, and went to the website. As I watched the show, I could feel the medication starting to take effect so I shut off my laptop, placed it aside, and laid back. Soon I could feel myself starting to drift off to sleep with thoughts of being home tomorrow and with my mother.