Runaway Aurora

“I feel like running away,” she said. And then she walked away in anger.

I smiled at her tiny little feet marching away from our house for I think alike too. The only thing constant from my childhood till adulthood is this crazy urge to run away. Runaway from people, places, feelings, and what not.

My niece wanted to run away because she wasn’t allowed to go out and play. It made her unhappy. But what makes me think alike?

I am not in any captivity, still, I want to be free. The thing that confuses me is nothing but the fact that from what do I need freedom of? Unhappiness made her feel like fleeing. Does that mean I am unhappy too?

I looked around and saw my daily life. The life that felt lifeless. The days with colors drained out of it. Is this the life of my dreams that I once proudly announced to my parents about, in my childhood? I know the answer.

And maybe that is why I want to run away. What is a happy life? What makes a happy life? All run behind the notion of a happy life, but wait a second, can anyone tell me what is a happy life to you? Maybe somewhere we all think that running away from all the unhappiness and melancholy of this life might lead us to a happy life, is it so? A happy life is like a mirage. You feel that this would make you happy and that would make you the opposite but is it that simple? What if we dive in deep to all this? Happiness is a choice. But if it’s a choice why can’t we choose it everyday? Why can’t we choose it alongside every decision that we make?

My thoughts got a small break when I saw her tiny little body squeezing herself inside my blanket and hugging me tightly.

“ I am running away to a place with a swing, snake slides, and lots of ice cream.” She slowly whispered into my ears in her not-so-low whispering and whiny tone. I gave her a small kiss on the cheeks.

“ Where do you plan to run away?”Her curious voice made me think again. Without any hesitation, I began.

“ I will run away to a place where I see an Aurora. Seeing the sky change its color is a lot better thing than seeing people changing their colors. I will run away to a place where I would be with people who won’t judge me or try to control me. A place where I can be myself and unapologetically show off my individuality. I will run away somewhere better, somewhere far.” She snored as I finished my plan.