7:27

I felt the weight of the suitcase pull against my hand as I embarked on a journey with no destination in mind. The year 1945, a father to a murdered son; husband to a weary wife. All is lost, all is gone. Glimpses of the past lingered across my mind as I patiently waited for my turn at the ticket kiosk.

 "A ticket to wherever this money gets me " I said as I ruffled through my fanny pack and grabbed the lot . My hands trembled with uncertainty but my heart knew better as I looked at my boarding ticket . I knew any place was better than here, too many memories, more to sorrow than to cherish. 

I sat down on the wooden bench and couldn't help but think of home, my home; at least it once was. A home filled with laughter and love now replaced with silence and blood . The war has certainly taken its toll , "Hell ! it's taken my life." It's funny how one single moment can completely change who you are forever. They always say "Learn from your mistakes" but haven't we caused enough mistakes to not learn at the cost of ours .

Tears rippled down the side of my wrinkled cheek as I recollected that day, the day when everything changed ... The day I lost myself .

It was silent that day, after days and days of metallic caps firing continuously, it was too silent . That's when the silence was broken with a bang as the bomb exploded and destroyed my whole town Hiroshima. It's funny how luck works and who it favours,for I was not there when it happened. Work had taken me across to the capital where I extended my services to the wounded soldiers.  

So here I am, a man without a family, a man without a plan. Should I be tied up around the past and start living a lie or should I move on and accept the truth. This is my identity now whether I like it or not. The purpose of life is to find YOUR purpose and my purpose is to live life and not merely survive it. That's what they would have wanted . 

I looked up at the sky just as a few pigeons flustered by, completely unknown to the havoc down here. I wished I were a bird, a free spirit exploring the vast lands, that's when I realized the concept of freedom is all in the mind. Freeing the mind is freedom! 

I can let these memories anchor me down and bind me to this earth or I can let these pass and make me a stronger person. A trip or vacation may end but it's the journey that follows... Every experience is an achievement I thought as I looked at my old Rolex and wondered how life zoomed by . 

I could smell the rich Jasmine tea being prepared, I could hear the paper boy yelling "Hot news " and passengers hustling their way towards me. I looked up and that's when I realized it's time ....... It's 7:27.