Midnite Journey

If Only We Could Return To Innocence

For the 48-Hour Challenge: Media Prompt  Return To Innocence





  There was a time when we all believed in tooth fairies, unicorns, and fairytales. We'd have the sweetest dreams in our slumbers at night and wake smiling, ready to take on a new, exciting day.


  We'd play cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians. We'd play dress up, have pretend tea parties with our imaginary friends, and plan our one and only wedding to Prince Charming someday.


  When did the days of our innocence end? Did we just wake up one morning from a nightmare instead? From then on our Worlds, our views, of life somehow flipped on us.


  Suddenly, the tea parties became mandatory meetings at a job we hated showing up for. Prince Charming became someone we would look for, for eternity, till we realized he lived in a castle, on a hill top, somewhere in the past.


  Cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, became drug dealers and gang members hanging out on street corners hustling and killing each other over whos block was whos.


  Allowances permitted us to buy candy and save for that much anticipated toy we'd had our eyes on forever, but ended up getting for our birthday, instead. Now we work at a job we can't stand, to pay bills we don't want, but need. At the end of the month scrapping up pennies for the one extravagant meal at the drive thru McDonald's, on our way home, because more of our attention was needed there, adulting.


  We built forts out of blankets in the living room and cardboard boxes in the back yard, (because blankets weren't permitted outside). We'd play soldiers in them or play house, the ideal families in every one. Now we pay mortgages or rent for years and years to a house that still isn't big enough for everyone to have their own room, yet so big it takes a whole day to clean. We fight over blankets in the middle of the night, usually ending up with only a corner to cover a bare foot or shoulder.


  Our biggest decisions back then were about which flavor lollipop we wanted, which was better, chocolate or vanilla ice cream, and who was going to be picked first in a game of dodgeball.


  I could go on and on with this. Writing about this has taken me back to my days of innocence and though I wouldn't change anything, for fear of altering my present or future, I'd love to go back, sit at a table somewhere and watch my younger self. I know I'd smile and laugh till it hurt, but at least for a few brief moments, I'd be innocent and carefree again.